Innovative Extension Services for Technology Transfer: The Case of Aquaculture in Northern Malawi
Authors: Msiska O.V. , UJahengo T.P. , Domenica L.D. , Mshalie M , Mussa H , Mlenga I , Miller J. 
Published: December 2024

Aquaculture started a long time ago in Africa, but only in recent years did visible production systems emerge that are sustainable for rural areas. Such systems demonstrate increased fish production and higher incomes as shown by examples from Egypt, Nigeria, Zambia and 33Uganda. In Malawi, aquaculture growth has been slow and positive impacts recorded from past efforts were short-lived. This presentation outlines an innovative extension approach that gained national visibility. Examples were drawn from three districts of the Northern Region of Malawi, where per unit fish production from ponds doubled, incomes rose while the recruitment of fish farmers overshot targets. Participation by men and women, and youth indicated that the technology reached across the whole society. The GIZ Aquaculture Value Chain Project (2018-2022) implemented an approach that followed a sequence of activities that emphasised participation at all farming levels that was cupped by coaching loops. From sensitization workshops of stakeholders arranged in collaboration with the District Executive Committees of Council, to Training of Trainers {ToTs) followed by technical trainings of fish farmers arranged in groups, field activities were consolidated by coaching loops which were reflectively anchored on fish farmers providing solutions to problems they encountered. From an initial target of 400 fish farmers, which was adjusted to 700 half-way into the implementation period, the project recorded assistance to 853 by year 2022, who established farm business units. Through the project cycle of 2019-2023, there was a suite of key must-do activities which were diligently conducted with the assistance of a local NGO. During coaching purposeful questioning, mirroring and feedback were spiced by a visioning exercise. Coaching was mostly facilitated by the local NGO employing services of mostly graduate interns. The number of trained fish farmers eventually reached 1,121. The current average fish productivity of 2,090-3,800 kg/ha is the highest ever increase ever reported by fish farmers in Malawi from a baseline of 500-1,000kg/ha recorded by IMANI (2018). By establishing quality feed suppliers, teaching and demonstrating hatchery operations, and providing marketing support, the project established modern fish farm units that can be replicated in other countries. There was an offshoot of Peri-Urban fish farmers around Mzuzu City under Lusangazi Conservation Trust. Hatchery operations were anchored by pilot operators, who incidentally realised higher income from sales of fingerlings than from on-growing market units. To gain more control over the breeding process, some of the farmers adopted the hapa-in-pond system. Several innovations have emerged such as fish-banana and fish-sweet potato integrations; other integrations are possible as with pig or poultry. We believe that this approach could be replicated in other countries like Namibia where fish farming and related technologies have yet to be firmly established. For sustainability, the “Follow-up and Coaching Loop” and what is dubbed the “Light House Approaches” are the critical highlights. Since then, Fish Farmers’ groups in Rumphi district have formed a Fish Farmers Association to work with the District Development Committee while in Mzimba district, fish farming has been adopted by District Development Committee for annual internal budgetary support. With large numbers of farmers, extension support through private sector suppliers of fingerlings and feeds can eventually emerge for a win-win situation, overcoming the limited effectiveness of government extension support. The cooler climatic similarities between Malawi and Namibia offer interesting parallels for slowness of rural fish farming development, but the approach in the northern region of Malawi demonstrates an effective approach to assisting rural farmers.