Strategy Bostwana

ACP Fish II Coordination Unit Service Contract n CU/PE1/MZ/10/004
Support for Devising of the Aquaculture Development Strategy for

Botswana
and the development of outlines for the
Fisheries Management Plan of the Okavango Delta
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR

BOTSWANA
draft
REPORT PREPARED BY : DR JEROME DAVIS,

INLAND AQUACULTURE EXPERT , SOGES SP A
APRIL 2011
Project implemented by Soges S.p.A. consortium
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

Support for Devising of the Aquaculture Development Strategy for Botswana and the development of outlines for the Fisheries
Management Plan of the Okavango Delta
Table of Contents
LIST OF ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................... 5
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 10
1.1. Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 11
2. Status Of Aquaculture In Botswana ............................................................................................. 12
2.1. History of aquaculture in Botswana....................................................................................... 12
2.2 SME Aquaculture................................................................................................................... 14
2.3. Stocking of Dams ................................................................................................................ 17
2.3.1. Tigerfish stocking as a tourism development strategy .................................................... 18
3. Biophysical conditions for aquaculture ........................................................................................ 20
3.1. Temperature ......................................................................................................................... 20
3.2. Water.................................................................................................................................... 23
3.2.1. The Limpopo .................................................................................................................. 23
3.2.2. The Okavango Delta ...................................................................................................... 23
3.2.3. The Chobe ..................................................................................................................... 25
3.2.4. Commercial aquaculture in impoundments..................................................................... 27
4. Culture Species........................................................................................................................... 29
4.1. Catfish .................................................................................................................................. 29
4.2. Tilapia ................................................................................................................................... 29
5. Markets ....................................................................................................................................... 31
5.1. Local market ......................................................................................................................... 31
5.2. International markets ............................................................................................................ 33
5.3. Regional markets.................................................................................................................. 34
6. Institutional environment ............................................................................................................. 35
6.1 Botswanas Policies to Promote Aquaculture ......................................................................... 35
6.2 Government Departments ..................................................................................................... 37
6.2.1 Department of Wildlife and National Parks.......................................................................... 37
6.2.2 Department of Environmental Affairs ............................................................................... 39
6.2.3. Department of Agriculture .............................................................................................. 40
6.3. Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) ............................................................................... 42
6.4. Business and Financial Institutions ....................................................................................... 43
6.4.1. Foreign investment ......................................................................................................... 43
6.4.2. Commercial Finance ...................................................................................................... 43
6.4.3. BEDIA ............................................................................................................................ 43
6.4.4. IFSC............................................................................................................................... 44
6.4.5. CEDA ............................................................................................................................. 44
6.4.6. LEA ................................................................................................................................ 45
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6.5. Education and Training ......................................................................................................... 46

6.5.1. Botswana College of Agriculture .................................................................................... 46
6.5.2. DWNP training courses by international consultants ...................................................... 46
Figure 3. Botswana College of Agriculture recirculating tilapia system. .................................... 46
6.5.3. DWNP Aquaculture Literature ........................................................................................ 47
6.5.4. DWNP Website .............................................................................................................. 47
7. Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................... 48
7.1. General infrastructure ........................................................................................................... 48
7.2. Agricultural Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 48
7.3. Aquaculture infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 48
7.3.1. Mmadinare Hatchery ...................................................................................................... 48
8. Barriers to aquaculture development ........................................................................................... 50
8.1. A nonexistent aquaculture sector and necessary economies of scale................................... 50
8.2. Technical skill and experience required for aquaculture........................................................ 50
8.3. Access to land and water ...................................................................................................... 51
8.4. Misconceptions surrounding the viability of aquaculture ....................................................... 51
8.5. Inadequate market information ............................................................................................. 52
8.6. Government red tape ............................................................................................................ 52
8.7. Lack of entrepreneurial skills ................................................................................................ 52
9. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 54
10. Draft Aquaculture Development Plan for Botswana ................................................................... 55
10.1. Subsistence Aquaculture Strategic Plan ............................................................................. 56
10.2. SME Aquaculture Strategic Plan ......................................................................................... 57
10.3. Commercial Aquaculture Strategic Plan.............................................................................. 58
10.4. Aquaculture Based Recreational Fishing and Tourism........................................................ 59
10.5. Aquaculture Development Strategy: Cross-cutting Issues .................................................. 60
References ..................................................................................................................................... 64
Appendices ..................................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix 1. Consultative workshop: Gaborone 24th March 2011: Programme; Attendance
Register; Discussion. ................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix 2. Consultative workshop: Francistown 29th March 2011: Programme; Attendance
Register; Discussion .................................................................................................................... 82
Appendix 3. Key informants that were consulted during the stakeholder consultation process .... 92
Appendix 4. Imports of fish products into Botswana. 2009-2010. Source: Central Statistics Office.
.................................................................................................................................................... 94
Appendix 5. Observed shortcomings of Mmadinare Hatchery ..................................................... 97
Appendix 6. Botswana College Of Agriculture, Department Of Animal Science And Production
Aquaculture Course. Asb 429, Aquaculture- 2 Credits ................................................................. 99
Appendix 7. Twenty Common Questions On Aquaculture. DWNP Fisheries Division Booklet ... 101
Appendix 8. Dams stocked with fish from Mmadinare Hatchery................................................. 109
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List of tables, figures and photographs

Figure 1. Tilapia value chain (Source courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica) ................................................. 15
Figure 2 Images of the investigating teams visit to Jackalas II Village and dam. ............................ 18
Figure 3 . Average daily water temperature over 10 years recorded at Kasane Airport ................... 20
Figure 4. Roadside fish seller in Gaborone ..................................................................................... 31
Figure 5. Botswana College of Agriculture recirculating tilapia system. ........................................... 46
Figure 6. Mmadinare Hatchery at Letsibogo Dam (Selebi-Phikwe).................................................. 49
Table 1. Fish farming enquiries at the DWNP office in Gaborone .................................................... 14

Table 2. System unit costing tilapia ponds (data supplied courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica) ............... 16
Table 3. Effect of temperature on tilapia under culture conditions (courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica) ..... 22
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
ACP
ADSB
ALCOM
BDC
BEDIA
BNVL
BOBS
CEDA
DABP
DTI
DEA
DWA
DWNP
EDD
EIA
EUS
FAO
FCR
FD
IFSC
KIFI
LEA
MFDP
MoA
NCCEE
NDP9
NDP10
NGO
ODMP
OIE
PEIA
RAMSAR
RAS
SADC
SANAS
SME
SPEDU
SSA
TLA
WTO
WUC
UBOTS
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Aquaculture Development Strategy for Botswana
Aquaculture for Local Communities
Botswana Development Corporation
The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority
Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory
Botswana Bureau of Standards
Citizen Enterprise Development Agency
Department of Agriculture Business Promotion
Department of Trade and Industry
Department of Environmental Affairs
Department of Water Affairs
Department of Wildlife and National Parks
Economic Diversification Drive
Environmental Impact Assessment
Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome
Food and Agriculture Organisation
Food Conversion Ratio
Fisheries Division
International Financial Services Center
Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute
Local Enterprise Authority
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
Ministry of Agriculture
National Conference on Citizen Economic Empowerment
National Development Programme 9
National Development Programme 10
Non Government Organisation
Okavango Delta Management Plan
World Organisation For Animal Health
Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment
Convention on Wetlands signed in Ramsar Iran in 1971
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Southern African Development Community
South African National Accreditation System
Small to Medium Enterprise
Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit
Sub Saharan Africa
Tawana Land Board
World Trade Organisation
Water Utilities corporation
University of Botswana
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Executive summary
This report presents an Aquaculture Development Strategy for Botswana (ADSB). The project was
initiated as part of the European Union ACP Fish II Programme at the request of the government of
Botswana. The process to develop the ADSB was facilitated by a technical team comprising of
aquaculture consultants appointed by SOGES S.p.A. and staff of the Department of Wildlife and
National Parks (DWNP) Fisheries Division. The ADSB is based on a series of consultative
stakeholder workshops, interviews with key persons, and a review of the relevant literature, policy
and legislation, carried out between January and April 2011. The draft ADSB was discussed at a
National stakeholder workshop in Gaborone on 26 April where a second draft ADSB and the final
ADSB were presented to senior government officials in a Validation Workshop on 28 April 2011.
The first part of the ADSB report presents an assessment of the status and potential of aquaculture
in Botswana, and a strategic diagnostic analysis of the opportunities and constraints facing
aquaculture development in the country. This is followed by recommended strategies and
operational objectives to develop aquaculture in Botswana.
Although Botswana possesses no dedicated aquaculture policy or supporting legislation, it was
identified as a means of diversifying agriculture production in Botswana under the National
Development Plan 9 (NDP9). A strategic goal of NDP9 was to promote fishing farming in
Botswana, as a successful aquaculture industry would help to diversify the economy; enhance rural
livelihoods and protein supply and reduce the countrys dependence on imported fish. Funding was
made available for the establishment of a state hatchery situated at the Letsibogo Dam at
Mmadinare which was built in 2008. Further funding for the Mmadinare Hatchery was provided
under NDP10 for improvements to the facility and technical training of staff. The Botswana
Government has created a favourable institutional environment for the development of new sectors
such as aquaculture. The DWNP Fisheries Division (FD) was designated as the lead agency in
promoting aquaculture development. Their efforts have resulted in a high degree of awareness of
aquaculture as a farming activity amongst ordinary citizens and business people alike. The
Mmadinare government hatchery produces fingerlings for supply to aspirant fish farmers and for
stocking dams for rural communities. Fisheries Division staff at Mmadinare, Gaborone and Maun
provide a limited range of technical information and support to aspirant farmers. A steady flow of
Botswana citizens seeking a small enterprise opportunity visit the Fishery Division offices in
Gaborone and Mmadinare on a daily basis, where they are supported in their attempts to establish
aquaculture businesses. Requests for financing aquaculture business plans are regularly received
by Botswanas development finance institutions (the Local Enterprise Authority LEA, and the
Citizen Enterprise Development Agency CEDA). Unfortunately no commercial aquaculture projects
have successfully been established in Botswana to date due to the various constraints which exist to
aquaculture in Botswana.
The physical conditions for aquaculture in Botswana are below optimal, in part due to a scarcity of
suitable water, but primarily because average water temperatures are lower than the optimal range
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growth of 25-30C for warm water fish species such as tilapia and catfish. The northern region below
Kasane provides the most suitable ambient water temperatures. In the southern areas of the
country, options for heating water and overwintering fish (such as vegetable tunnels) will need to be
implemented to obtain commercially competitive production rates. The prospects for aquaculture in
the Okavango Delta region are not promising due to the sensitive conservation status of the area,
bio-physical constraints, and distance from services and urban markets.
The choice of species and the sourcing of fish with genetics suitable for farm production is a further
constraint in Botswana. Indigenous tilapia species do not grow fast enough to be profitable in
comparison to the Nile tilapia, which has been selected for fast growth, and which has become the
standard farmed tilapia species around the world. A poor market image and correspondingly low
prices currently eliminate African catfish as a good candidate species in the Botswana and South
African markets, although potential may exist for export to African countries which value this
species. Importing genetically improved tilapia strains is an option in catchments where the Nile
tilapia is already present (Zambezi, Limpopo) but the species and associated diseases and
parasites pose a potential risk to sensitive aquatic ecosystems. Fish farms utilizing introduced
species would need to be excluded from sensitive areas and strict measures would need to be
enforced to ensure that escapes, whether accidental or intentional, would not occur. An alternative
strategy would be to improve the growth characteristics of indigenous species by selective breeding
programs, but this would be an expensive long term strategy.
In terms of subsistence level aquaculture, the efforts of the DWNP Fishery Division in stocking
impoundments with tilapia and catfish fingerlings produced from the Mmadinare hatchery for rural
communities have proven successful in a number of dams. Local communities have benefited from
having fish in previously sterile dams. For example, at the Jackalas II village dam, the Dam
Committee came up with an innovative strategy of selling fishing licences to anglers. Such projects
thus have the potential to allow rural communities to derive cash income from tourism in addition to
the subsistence food value of the fish.
An additional high value tourism activity linked to aquaculture is the stocking of large impoundments
with tigerfish for recreational angling. This would support Botswanas policy of promoting tourism on
its dams. Tigerfish were successfully introduced into Letsibogo dam in an experiment. There is a
huge economy associated with fishing tourism and a healthy population of tigerfish would attract
international anglers and potentially provide the basis for a local tourism industry including lodges,
houseboats, guides and services. Fishing based tourism is thus a means of creating jobs, and
entrepreneurial and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
A key constraint to the development of aquaculture as a small to medium size farming enterprise
(SME) activity, is the absence of an established aquaculture sector and value chain in Botswana.
Experience with SME aquaculture promotion in Botswana reveals that the activity is not currently
viable as a stand-alone business. Options for supporting SME aquaculture development include
minimising input costs through integration with other farming activities e.g. using irrigation dams for
stocking fish. On-farm research and a pilot project is required to benchmark production
performance in low-input integrated systems in order to provide a business model with realistic input
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costs and expected production output. The DWNP media promotion of SME aquaculture should be
suspended until a viable production model is available. The absence of an aquaculture service
means that a pioneer farmer will need to establish a vertically integrated business operation which
includes the installation of basic infrastructure, seed supply, grow-out, feed manufacturing, an
abattoir, processing and packing facilities, marketing, and cold chain distribution. A minimum sized
economic production unit would thus be quite large (probably over 100t), requiring a significant
investment that is beyond the means of small entrepreneurs. Therefore, an initial strategic objective
should be the establishment of at least one large commercial aquaculture enterprise which has the
critical mass to establish an aquaculture value chain in Botswana, and provide a regular supply of
product in sufficient volume to the local market.
Botswanas programme of building dams and the NDP10 objective of developing irrigation schemes
offers a potential opportunity for establishing commercial aquaculture. The Ministry of Agriculture is
considering the establishment of an integrated agriculture/aquaculture and agro-processing hub in
Pandamatenga region based on water drawn from the Zambesi River. If a project of this nature were
to proceed, it would be able to kickstart the industry and allow small farmers to enter aquaculture
production assatellite on-growers supplying product into the value chain established by the pioneer
commercial farm. An initial, large scale commercial aquaculture operation would need to include
international support and backing as there is a paucity of local skills and experience in commercial
fish farming. Botswana has a range of incentives for foreign investment and is generally considered
a good place to invest.
The physical and species constraints point towards the use of high intensity production systems
where an appropriate tilapia strain would need to be cultured at high densities so that water could be
cost effectively heated or where use could be made of waste heat from industrial cooling processes.
The price of intensively cultured fish produced would thus be relatively high, and the product would
need to fetch a correspondingly high market price to be competitive. The local market for farmed fish
is a relatively unknown quantity in Botswana. Although the Batswana people are traditionally not fish
consumers, retailers report that fish is growing in popularity and that whenever tilapia supplies are
regular, demand seems to grow. Most local demand is currently satisfied by frozen tilapia from
China which retails at around P30, too low a price to compete against given the likely production
input costs in Botswana. However, if local production could meet the criteria of distributors, then
protection mechanisms against cheap imports, such as compulsory declaration of product origin and
the trademarking of local names (e.g. Botswana Bream), could come into play. The international
market for farmed tilapia would not be an option for local producers due to an oversupply with
cheaply produced Asian and Latin American product. The regional market may hold some potential
but this needs more research, as neighbouring countries, such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi,
which have established tilapia aquaculture, appear to enjoy certain comparative advantages.
Institutionally, a lack of coordination between public sector organisations and the lack of an
aquaculture sector development policy constrains the creation of an enabling environment for
investment in aquaculture in Botswana. The lack of designated land and water for aquaculture
currently frustrates potential investors, despite the promotional efforts of DWNP. A coordinated
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government approach to establish designated aquaculture sites, through the setting aside of land
and water in areas of the country most suitable for aquaculture, facilitation of EIAs and other
preliminary planning processes, and provision of basic infrastructure, would facilitate investment into
the sector. Development zones or clusters for beef and dairy have been successful in aiding those
industries in the country in the past. A single government agency entry point should be created
whereby potential investors could be guided through the initial bureaucratic phases of the
investment process. Botswanas investment promotion agency, BIDEA, has facilitated similar
initiatives for other sectors. However, given the physical, biological and economic constraints
outlined above, a careful economic feasibility and due diligence appraisal would be required to
inform any decision to invest public sector funds in the promotion of a commercial aquaculture
cluster or hub.
Based on the strategic diagnostic analysis of the status and potential of aquaculture in Botswana,
the recommended strategic and operational objectives of the draft Aquaculture Development
Strategy for Botswana are presented in a synoptic tabular form, which is divided according to
sectorial activity areas, visibly:
1) Subsistence Aquaculture
2) SME Aquaculture
3) Commercial Aquaculture
4) Aquaculture-based Recreational fishing and Tourism
5) Aquaculture Development Strategy : Cross-cutting issues.
The recommended Strategic and Operational Objectives for each sectorial activity area are
classified thematically, namely :- Institutional, Research and Technology Transfer, Production,
Training and Information Dissemination, Markets and Ecological. A recommended time frame is
attached to each operational objective, namely, 1 , 3 , 5 and 10 years.
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1. Introduction
A levelling off of the wild fishery harvest combined with world population growth, an increase in the
standard of living for the middle classes, and an increased awareness of the health benefits of
eating fish, have resulted in substantial rise in the price of fish and seafood worldwide (FAO, 2010).
This has stimulated the development of the aquaculture around the world, which has been growing
at 8% per annum for two decades and is the fastest growing animal production sector in the world
(Brugre & Ridler, 2004; FAO 2010). Almost fifty percent of the worlds fish supply now originates
from aquaculture, and cultured fish such as salmon, tilapia and Vietnamese catfish (Pangassius) are
now a global commodity (Brugre & Ridler, 2004; FAO, 2010).
Aquaculture development in Africa has lagged behind the rest of the world, although in recent years
governments have increasingly taken steps to the sector (Moehl, 1999). Historically, the
development of aquaculture in sub-Saharan countries has gone through a series of phases. In the
1950s-1970s aquaculture was introduced in Africa by the colonial administrations, but there was
little knowledge or technical understanding and production did not become established outside of
state hatcheries (Hecht 2000). From 1970 to the mid 1990s, aquaculture was promoted as a rural
subsistence farming activity with significant donor support, R&D and government investment in seed
supply and extension to farmers. This period resulted in some commercial success in countries such
as Nigeria, Madagascar, Cote dIvoire, Zambia and South Africa, but on the whole the promotion of
small scale aquaculture was unsuccessful (Hecht 2000). From 1995 onward, donor support for
aquaculture development declined, but commercial aquaculture began to emerge spontaneously in
a number of countries due to a rise in fish demand and price which made aquaculture increasingly
viable (FAO, 1996; Hecht, 2000).
Aquaculture production in Sub-Saharan Africa nonetheless remains insignificant in global terms,
contributing 0.13% and 13.6% to total World and African aquaculture production respectively (FAO,
2010). The contribution by aquaculture to GDP in the target countries is negligible, ranging from
0.001% to 0.715%. Aquaculture production only contributes 2.03% (72,334 mt) to the total fisheries
yield of the target countries (3.6 million mt) (FAO, 1996; FAO, 2010; Hecht, 2000).
The prospectus is however not altogether discouraging. It is projected that aquaculture production in
Sub Saharan Africa will by 2013 be between 208,600 and 380,400 mt per annum (FAO, 2010). Total
aquaculture production in the 17 target countries between 1998 and 2003 has increased by 61%
from 44,962 mt to 72,334 mt (Hecht, 2006). Per capita fish consumption has decreased significantly
in many African countries over the last 30 years which is a worrying trend for policy makers (FAO
2010). This is an effect of increased population growth and a decreasing in African wild fish catch.
High value fish exports from Africa are expected to decrease over the next decade and imports of
low value fish will increase (FAO 1996; Hecht, 2006). The price of fish in Africa is thus destined to
rise significantly, whereas the price for traditional sources of protein such as beef, poultry and pork
is likely to fall (FAO, 2010). This will favour the development of aquaculture for high value species
(Hecht, 2000).
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At present Botswana has no aquaculture production and is a net importer of approximately 2,900t of
fish annually (Appendix 4). Most fish products, such as tinned pilchards or frozen hake fillets, are
imported from South Africa. Aquaculture has been identified as a means by which Botswana can
achieve the development goals of reducing its reliance on imported food. The Botswana National
Development Plan 9 (NDP9) set the strategic goal of promoting fish farming in 2003 and the
Fisheries Division of the DWNP was been mandated as the agency to lead the development of
aquaculture. A state hatchery was developed at Mmadinare, personnel trained and DWNP staff
allocated to providing technical assistance and advice on fish farming.
Their efforts thus far have succeeded in raising public interest in aquaculture as an enterprise
opportunity, but despite their best efforts to develop the industry, commercial aquaculture in
Botswana has not become established. In order to address this problem, the DWNP responded to
an invitation from the European Union for fisheries projects in the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP)
countries under the EU ACP Fish II programme. Technical assistance was requested to formulate
an Aquaculture Development Strategy for Botswana. It was envisaged that the strategy could guide
government to draft a clear policy which will give rise to the development of sustainable aquaculture
in the country.
The EU ACP Fish II tender for Botswana was awarded to SOGES S.p.A., and a team of experts
from South Africa was appointed to form a technical team together with members of the DWNP
Fishery Division.
1.1.
Methodology
In order to analyse the status and potential of aquaculture in Botswana, the technical team
assembled all available literature on aquaculture in the country. They visited aquaculture facilities,
fish farmers current and past, and potential sites. Three public consultative stakeholder workshops
were held in Maun, Gaborone and Francistown. Minutes and attendance registers of the latter 2
workshops are appended as Appendices 1-2. Key individuals were privately consulted (listed in
Appendix 3). Wherever possible, information and perceptions about fish and aquaculture were
solicited, for example, by stopping at informal roadside fish markets, investigating supermarket
freezer shelves, ordering bream in restaurants, interviewing taxi drivers about their eating habits,
questioning lunchtime food hawkers, and chatting to a former owner of a Pick n Pay Hypermarket
franchise in Gaborone. The collective knowledge gathered by all of these means were synthesised
and forms the basis from which the status and potential of aquaculture in Botswana could be
analysed. Each section concludes with a diagnostic summary of issues requiring strategic
intervention. These issues informed the strategic and operational objectives defined of the draft
Aquaculture Development Strategy for Botswana.
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2. Status Of Aquaculture In Botswana

There is currently no commercial aquaculture in Botswana, despite significant interest in the
opportunity by many citizens and efforts by the government to promote its establishment.
Aquaculture production in terms of tonnage and value is effectively zero. Aquaculture activity is
limited to a state hatchery at Mmadinare, which produces fingerlings and provides technical advice,
and a few individuals who have built small production facilities which cannot be considered
commercially operational. In this section we describe the history and current status of aquaculture
activities in Botswana.
2.1. History of aquaculture in Botswana

Aquaculture in Botswana started to receive attention during the 1980s and 1990s through the
ALCOM (Aquaculture for Local Communities Development Program sponsored by the United
Nations FAO, which undertook a number of activities, organised meetings and produced a number
of publications on small scale rural aquaculture in Southern Africa (ALCOM 1996a ; ALCOM 1996b ;
ACOM 1999). ALCOMs objective was to address the regions problem of poor and undernourished
rural populations where animal proteins are particularly needed by promoting fish production
(ALCOM 1996b). The thrusts of ALCOM activities were technical, focusing on the dissemination of
technology for smallholder farmers and low input farming in impounded water bodies (ALCOM
1999). Fingerling production was underlined as the main technical constraint to aquaculture in
Botswana at the time (ALCOM 1996a). The outcome of these activities has been the Botswana
governments policy of 1) promoting SME aquaculture and 2) stocking dams with fingerlings
produced by the Government Fisheries Division hatchery at Mmadinare.
There have been several attempts to establish both small scale and large scale commercial fish
farms by various parties over the ensuing years. (Commonwealth Secretariat 1989; Hinrichsen and
Nermark, 2007 ; Shaft Nengu, DWNP, Pers. Comm., March 2011). The Commonwealth Report of
1989 listed several aquaculture proposals that had been submitted to government since the 1980s.
The largest of these was for the development of a 40ha freshwater prawn (Machrobrachium
rosenbergii) farm at Kasane and interest in the development of Marron, catfish and tilapia farms in
various parts of the country, all of which failed to come to fruition (Shaft Nengu, DWNP, Pers.
Comm., March 2011). At the time of this report there were two private sector aquaculture initiatives :
Mr P.J. Bestelink was involved in pond and cage culture of the three spot bream (O.
andersonii) in the Western Okavango using technical advice from Rhodes University. At the
time of the report he was experiencing a number of production problems, including high
mortality rate of the fry and fingerlings, poor conversion ratios, reduced oxygen levels and
marketing constraints. The project eventually failed (Mosetlhanyane,1997) .
Mr J. Seaman was producing catfish and tilapia as a complementary exercise to a crocodile
farm in Maun. The exercise was designed to use the effluent water from the farm and to
supplement the crocodiles with the grown fish.
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A number of other projects were being proposed or evaluated at the time :

A series of small ponds amounting to 0.1ha were under construction at Notwane (to the
south of Gaborone Dam by M Sampson and D Bookbinder. Their intent was to produce 500g
O. Mossambicus for the Gaborone hotel market.
10 ha of ponds were being developed at Shashe Dam by a certain Mr Thompson
BDC Chobe Farms Pty were proposing ten half hectare ponds for bream production for local
tourist hotels
Brink Holdings Farm was also proposing 10, half hectare ponds for bream close to Gaborone
Dam. Pig manure was going to be used for fertilising the ponds.
Nermark & Hinrichsen, in their 2008 Okavango Delta Aquaculture Development Guidelines list the
following aquaculture activities in 2008 :
Agrosolar, an irrigation based agriculture business outside Mochudi, initiated the farming of
tilapia, catfish and some other local species in farm ponds and concrete raceways or tanks.
The Sanitas Nurseries undertook some aquaculture activities as a practical trial towards
testing the viability of fish farming within the framework of their existing water management
systems for horticulture. Some fish were kept for brood stock material and some schools
were supplied with fingerlings. The project was suspended due to water restrictions during a
drought period.
Bream Farms (Pty.) Ltd. was granted permission to farm 150 tons of tilapia per annum in
cages in the Gaborone Dam with a hatchery downstream of the dam. The farming of
freshwater crayfish was also proposed.
Male Investments presented a business plan (in 2004) for a high-tech catfish farm, using a
SA turn-key system, for supply to the export market. The business promoter realized that the
export market was not yet established and no venture was initiated.
A company had applied for land at the Bokaa Dam for the purpose of intensive recirculation
based farming of tilapia and possibly catfish. An alternative site on private land outside of
Mochudi was also being considered, but no development had taken place.
None of these projects came to fruition either (Trevor Mmopelwa & Ulf Nermark, Pers. Comm.,
March 2011). Problems reported have ranged between unavailability of appropriate land or water,
poor business planning or technical and/or biophysical constraints.
The conclusion of a report on a proposed P15million project to culture 3000 t/a catfish for export
using satellite farmers for production illustrates the challenge that has faced most aspirant
aquaculture investors:
Considering the physical resources available in the country, the only feasible form of
commercial aquaculture is that of intensive tank culture of tilapia. While this is a technical
option, it does not stand up to even the most elementary financial analysis and is concluded
to be economically unfeasible. (Mmopelwa 2003).
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SOGES

The government of Botswana has supported aquaculture throughout because it believes that a
successful aquaculture industry could help to diversify the economy, enhance rural livelihoods and
protein supply, and reduce the countrys dependence on imported fish. Aquaculture was identified
as a means of diversifying agriculture production in Botswanas National Development Plan 9
(NDP9) and the promotion of fish farming was one of its strategic goals and funding was made
available in the NDP9 for the establishment of a state hatchery situated at the Letsibogo Dam at
Mmadinare. Further funding for the Mmadinare Hatchery was provided under NDP10 for
improvements to the facility and technical training of staff. Guidelines for the development of
aquaculture in the Okavango were drawn up in 2008 (Nermark & Hinrichsen, 2008) and in 2010, the
MoA invested heavily in the Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project
Consolidated Feasibility Report (Ministry of Agriculture, 2010).
Interestingly, many of the issues identified in this current analysis echoed findings in both the 1989
Commonwealth Report and again 10 years later in Nermark and Hinrichsons report, confirming that
there are fundamental barriers to development of aquaculture in Botswana which still need
addressing if the status quo of failed SME aquaculture is to change.
Strategic Diagnostic Analysis
It is clear from the history of aquaculture in Botswana that despite interest from investors,
available support from funding agencies, political will to promote aquaculture to substitute
imported fish and to diversify the economy, that commercial aquaculture has not proven
economically viable to date.
2.2 SME Aquaculture

The Botswana governments policy of promoting aquaculture has generated great interest in fish
farming as a small to medium size enterprise opportunity. The Gaborone DWNP office has handled
an increasing number of aquaculture enquires since 2008 (Table 1). The Mmadinare and Maun
offices also receive regular requests for assistance with aquaculture planning.
Table 1. Fish farming enquiries at the DWNP office in Gaborone

Year
2008
2009
2010
2011- to April
Total
No enquiries
11
33
27
72
However, no fish farms have become established due to :

The relatively high input costs of establishing and operating a fish farm.
The lack of an aquaculture service sector and value chain.
14
SOGES

The farmers lack of aquaculture technical skills and experience.

Economically, SME aquaculture production can only be viable if input costs are minimal. If capital is
spent on building ponds, pumping infrastructure, buildings and pelleted feed the input costs become
too high to make fish farming profitable. Substantial investments are required for establishing the
value chain needed for commercial tilapia production (Figure 1)
Feed,
bought
in
Xcm,
bought in
Fingerlin
gs,
bought in
Broodstock
conditioning
Fingerlings,
own stock 520 g
Growout
35g
Informal live market

(farm gate sales)
300 400g
Growout
Growout
800g
max
Stocking size will be dependent on farmer choice
LIVE
60-65% live weight (head on/ gutted) species

dependent
WHOLE,
FRESH
FRIED
70-75% live weight
GUTTED
FRESH
FROZEN
40-45% live weight (net)
35-40% live weight filleted

Species dependent
FILLETED,
FRESH
FROZEN
Figure 1. Tilapia value chain (Source courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica)
A desktop financial analysis of SME tilapia production in southern Botswana revealed that the
capital costs of a 10 pond unit would be significant (Table 2), and the production cost per over
P30/kg. A low input / low management scenario of the system operating on the approach of pond
fertilization and a single summer growth season was reported to be able to yield, depending on the
site, between 2070 and 3380 kg per annum at a cost per unit of P33 / kg and P54 / kg. Constraints
to this scenario were the high initial setup costs (R1 080 665), single growth season, low yield and
feed transport costs. A second scenario based on indoor intensive culture in a heated, re-circulating
system was found to be able to yield approximately 23 tons per annum at a cost per unit production
of P24 / kg to P29 / kg, dependent on feed conversion efficiency. The intensive recirculation options
15
SOGES

was more management intensive than the pond culture option, requiring skilled labour, higher input
costs and increased risk. Considering that individually packed, gutted, scaled, frozen Chinese
Tilapia could delivered for throughout Botswana for P31/kg, SME aquaculture does simply not
appear to be competitive at the present time.
Table 2. System unit costing tilapia ponds (data supplied courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica)
ITEM
UNIT PRICE
UNITS NEEDED
TOTAL
Earth moving
R35 000,00
R35 000,00
PVC dam liner
R65 000,00
R65 000,00
Drain system
R1 500,00
R1 500,00
SUB TOTAL
R101 500,00
0.1 Ha POND
HOLDING SUPPLY DAM

Earth moving
R35 000,00
R35 000,00
PVC dam liner
R30 000,00
R30 000,00
Drain system
R3 000,00
R3 000,00
SUB TOTAL
R68 000,00
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM per POND

LDPE
black
(63mm)
pipe
R18,00
30
R540,00
Valve
R375,00
R375,00
Fittings
R150,00
R150,00
SUB TOTAL
R1 065,00
HUSBANDRY
LABOUR
EQUIPMENT
&
Wheelbarrows
R800,00
R1 600,00
Seine nets
R1 500,00
R3 000,00
Tools
R2 000,00
R4 000,00
Storage shed
R20 000,00
R20 000,00
SUB TOTAL
R28 600,00
16
SOGES

TOTAL - 10 pond farm
R1 112 665,00
2.3. Stocking of Dams

The DWNP Fishery Division has been stocking impoundments with fingerlings produced from
Mmadinare Hatchery since its completion in 2009. A list of stocked impoundments is provided in
Appendix 8. The stocked fish are intended to enhance the livelihoods of the communities associated
with the dams, either through direct harvesting of the fish for consumption or sale, or by means of
income from recreational fishing.
The irregular rainfall pattern that characterises Botswana has necessitated the construction of many
impoundments for water storage. The Water Utilities (WUC) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
have constructed impoundments across the country and communities and farmers have built
irrigation and livestock watering dams on their land. Several dams have been sampled and stocked
with fingerlings from the Mmadinare fish hatchery by the Fisheries Division (Appendix 8). Three
community dams, Mogopane and Mmasenyetse dams (30 and 70km from Gaborone respectively)
and Jackalas No. 2 have been selected to be used by the Division as pilot projects for fish utilization
by communities.
In order to gain more insight into DWNPs dam stocking initiative, the project technical team visited
the Jackalas II village community whose stock enhancement project is the most established of the
stocking initiatives. A kgotla meeting (village meeting), which included members of the Village
Development Committee and Dam Committee, was held with the kind permission of the chief and
issues concerning the project were discussed. This was followed by a site visit of the dam, images
of which are shown below (Figure 2).
The dam was constructed by the MoA primarily for watering cattle, and its administration delegated
to the community of the Jackalas II village. The dam committee consisted of 12 members, (7 of
whom are women) which are responsible for all matters related to the dam. Following discussions
with DWNP, the dam was stocked with tilapia from the Mmadinare hatchery. Few people in the
village knew how to catch fish, but the village started to receive visitors wanting to come and fish on
the dam on weekends. Many of these customers were expatriates from neighbouring countries who
valued and knew how to catch fish, or who were simply seeking a weekend get-away from nearby
Francistown. The Dam Committee discussed the situation with themselves and with DWNP. They
decided to start selling fishing licences to visitors and instituted a pay per use system for fishing on
the dam.
The scheme has worked reasonably well, generating a modest income for the villagers. A new
tarmac road and electricity supply to the Jackalas II village has resulted in a steadily increasing
stream of people visiting the dam and fishing. The committee reported that it welcomes 3-5
customers each week. Customers are charged P50 for catching up to a maximum of 5 fish a day of
whatever size. Locals are charged P10 for the same privilege. If customers do not catch their
allotted fish, they may return for one more trip on the same license to fill their bag limit. National
fishing permits do not apply to this private water body, but the national fishing two month closed
17
SOGES

season is enforced in January and February. The community has profited from the stocking program
and the committee gathered an income of P7,200 from fishing permits in 2010. The dam committee
expressed the view that they would like to enhance the earning potential of the dam by fencing it,
providing visitor accommodation and facilities and patrolling the dam against poachers.
Figure 2 Images of the investigating teams visit to Jackalas II Village and dam.
The value of the fish stock enhancement project has been amply demonstrated, however to
increase income further the tourism potential of the site needs to be developed. The project needs
advertising, signage, accommodation, and training in hospitality in order to continue to grow. As the
DWNP Fishery Division do not have this expertise or experience, it would be appropriate for the
Botswana Department of Tourism or other appropriate agency to promote the project further.
2.3.1. Tigerfish stocking as a tourism development strategy
The viability of stocking tigerfish to promote recreational fishing and enhance international tourism
earnings was investigated in Letsibogo dam, one of the largest dam in Botswana. In 2009, tigerfish,
Hydrocynus vittatus, were translocated from Schroda Dam (Limpopo Province, South Africa) by a
team of researchers as part of an environmental baseline study (Tomschi et al 2009). The fish not
only thrived but benefited the ecology of the dam by competing with exotic bass and predating
undesirable mixed strain of tilapia, both of which were relocated by ignorant anglers (Gordon O
Brian. Pers Comm., March 2011).
Tourism contributes about five percent to Botswanas national GDP, the second largest after mining,
and the country has introduced a policy of using its dams to grow tourism (Tomschi et al 2009). As
tiger fish are a highly valued species for sports fishermen, an established population in the dam
would attract significant tourist numbers and income provided that appropriate access and facilities
were provided. For example, tiger fishing on the Phongola Dam in South Africa supports a number
of fishing tour operators, lodges, houseboats, numerous service industry opportunities and an
annual fishing competition that attracts several hundred boats. As Letsibogo Dam is situated just off
the main route to the North close to Francistown road, it is easily accessible to self-drive tourists.
The capacity of the DWNP Fishery Division and Mmadinare Hatchery provide the requisite capacity
for establishing a tiger fish population in Letsibogo Dam, which could create a major regional fishing
tourism destination.
18
SOGES

To realise the opportunity, an integrated plan with participation and support by relevant government
ministries would be required, particularly the Water Utilities Corporation which controls access to the
land and water surrounding the dam.
Strategic Diagnostic Summary

SME fish farming based on capital inputs for farm construction and pelleted feed purchase is not
economically viable at this point. A substantial potential exists for the numerous impoundments in
Botswana to be stocked with fish for low or zero input fish farming to promote food security and
income for local communities and small farmers. The DWNP Mmadinare Hatchery provides the
capacity to stock dams, but the facility requires more resources for maintenance and technical
training of staff to be effective. DWNP Fisheries Division should thus discourage small scale
aquaculture activities that require costly inputs and encourage the stocking of existing dams for low
input aquaculture or put and take fisheries where the benefits substantially outweigh the costs.
19
SOGES

3. Biophysical conditions for aquaculture

Fish need certain physical conditions in order to be able to reproduce and grow to market size. The
two most important are an appropriate temperature and suitable quality water.
3.1. Temperature
Botswana has a mostly arid climate characterised by large diurnal temperature fluctuations: hot
summer days alternate with cold nights. Winters are mild, but temperatures can plummet below
freezing at night, particularly in the South of the country.
Temperature data recorded over the ten years from 1998 to 2007 in Kasane the most Northern
and thus warmest part of the country (1749 S; 259 E; Elevation: 960 Metres) revealed a large
diurnal fluctuation in temperature even during summer months (Figure 1; data courtesy of TAHAL).
Although daily average high were in the range of 26 34 degrees C in summer, average daily lows
varied from 18 to 20C in summer and dropped to 8-15C in the months of April to September.
Average water temperatures are likely to track the median air temperature and be below the
minimum 25C required for optimal fish growth from April to October.
Figure 3 . Average daily water temperature over 10 years recorded at Kasane Airport:
17Deg49Min S; 25Deg9Min E; elevation 960m
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Temperature: Daily
Maiximum - Monthly Mean
Se
p
O
ct
No
v
De
c
Ju
l
Au
g
Temperature: Daily
Minimum - Monthly Mean
Ju
n
Ja
n
Fe
b
M
ar
Ap
r
M
ay
Degrees C
Average 10 Year Daily Temperatures Kasane Airport

17Deg49MinS, 25Deg9MinE; Elevation960m
Months
In the South, average annual water temperatures measured at the Motswane Dam (25S, 26E)
which supplies Gaborone in the South, ranged from 25.6C at noon to 23.5 C at sunrise (read at the
surface) in summer and 25C to 11C respectively in winter. Average yearly water temperature was
20
SOGES

19 C, well below the optimal growth range of 25-30 C required for warm water fish (Commonwealth
secretariat 1989).
Traditionally farmed animals such as cattle, pigs or chickens are warm blooded, meaning that they
have physiological mechanisms which enable them to control their body temperature. Fish on the
other hand are cold blooded and the ambient temperature therefore has a fundamental effect on
their wellbeing: when temperatures fall, their metabolisms slow down. Each species has its own
preferred range of temperatures within which they can thrive. For warm water fish, when
temperatures drop below the minimum of their preferred range, the animals will experience stress,
will cease to feed or grow, and will start to become vulnerable to disease and mortality (Table 2.)
21
SOGES

Table 3. Effect of temperature on tilapia under culture conditions (courtesy of

EnvirofishAfrica)
Temperature
Reproduction
Frequent
Good
31 C
Health
Optimal
32 C
Growth
30 C
29 C
28 C
26 C
Reduced
27 C
25 C
Reduced
24 C
23 C
22 C
20 C
Marginal
21 C
16 C
15 C
14 C
13 C
12 C
10 C
Lower
lethal
limit
11 C
Feeding ceases
17 C
Handling can lead to stress induced

trauma and mortality
18 C
Inhibited
19 C
22
SOGES

As water temperatures fall below 28C, reduced metabolic activity of tilapia results in a rapid decline
in growth rates (Balarin & Haller 1982, Chervinski 1982). Considering the temperature data
presented, commercial aquaculture is not viable in the South of the country and is at best marginal
in the North.
Water temperatures can be increased by using thermally controlled production systems such as
horticultural tunnels with recirculating water. This forces aquaculture production to be conducted in a
highly intensive manner to ameliorate the cost of the heating. This would have a significant effect on
the business model of aquaculture initiatives. An alternative would be to utilise waste heat from
industrial cooling water if this were available.
Temperatures in Botswana are not high enough to support year round growth of tilapia, placing
Botswanas at a comparative disadvantage compared to tropical countries with year round optimal
growing temperatures. Production would thus need to be seasonal or facilities would need to be
heated for over-wintering fish by artificial means. In either case the profitability of the operation
would be reduced. The market price of the product would need to be high enough to compensate for
high production costs. An alternative would be to establish fish farms with access to waste heat from
industrial cooling.
3.2. Water
Significant amounts of water are required for commercial aquaculture as a continuous source of
fresh water is required to dilute waste products. Botswana is a landlocked country with an arid
climate, erratic rainfall and a flat topography. There are few permanent water bodies and water is
generally a scarce resource.
The only significant natural permanent water bodies are the Limpopo river in the South Eastern Tuli
Block, the Okavango delta complex in the North West, and a short stretch of river frontage along the
Chobe River in the north east of the country.
3.2.1. The Limpopo
The Limpopo system is already highly utilized for irrigating crops and other industry. The flow is
erratic and the land is mostly privately owned. Water temperatures are sub-optimal for warm water
fish culture in the winter.
3.2.2. The Okavango Delta
While the abundance of water and fish in the Okavango Delta creates a possible opportunity for
aquaculture, many factors detract from the suitability of the Okavango delta as an environment for
aquaculture development. Primary amongst these is that the delta is an ecologically sensitive area
with a highly diverse and complex fish population. Exotic fish species such as Nile tilapia that would
be suitable candidates for aquaculture would pose a severe risk to the indigenous tilapia species
23
SOGES

which play a vital role in the health of the ecosystem and form the base of the fishery. The
vulnerability of the delta is highlighted by the fact that large scale, irrigated agricultural development
of the fringes of the Okavango Delta is not envisaged (Ministry of Agriculture 2004).
The notion of promoting aquaculture in the Delta has gained currency among fishermen and
resource managers as a means of supplementing fish stocks, ameliorating pressure on wild stocks,
alleviating areas of potential conflict around resource use, and creating small to medium size
enterprise opportunities (Nermark and Hinrichsen, 2007 ; pers. obs., Shakawe and Maun, Jan.-Feb.,
2011). In stakeholder consultative workshops conducted in Shakawe and Maun during the present
project, fishermen repeatedly requested that aquaculture be promoted to solve the problems they
were experiencing in the fishery (Shipton, outcome of the consultative workshop, 2011). The reality
is that aquaculture as modern farming activity is a vastly different undertaking to artisanal fishing,
and not a suitable substitute in economic, social or ecological terms. Fish can be caught for a
fraction of the price that they can be farmed, and fish stocks in the Delta are healthy. An analysis of
fisher needs revealed that they are rather faced with post-harvest processing and marketing
constraints, and not a shortage of fish (Shipton, outcome of the consultative workshop, 2011). The
underlying issue is one of fisher education levels and business skills, which need to be addressed to
empower them to gain more value from the fish they catch. Misconceptions and unrealistic
expectations about the nature of aquaculture need to be addressed.
In response to a perceived need to address the issue of aquaculture in the process to develop the
Okavango Delta Management Plan, The BiOkavango Project commissioned a consultancy to
prepare guidelines for aquaculture in the Okavango Delta (Nermark and Hinrichsen, 2007). While
the report provided guidelines on application procedures for starting an aquaculture enterprise, it did
not evaluate whether aquaculture was in fact an appropriate development activity for the Delta.
While the advantages and disadvantages of the bio-physical aspects of the Okavango environment
for aquaculture were listed in terms of aquaculture production, the report was silent on ecological
and economic considerations. This is unfortunate as the report uncritically perpetuates the notion
that aquaculture is an appropriate sustainable development activity for the Okavango Delta.
The reality is that there are serious constraints to the development of aquaculture in the Okavango
Delta region, and it would be appropriate for the Botswana government not to actively promote
aquaculture as an enterprise opportunity in this region. The constraints to aquaculture in the delta
include the following:
Ecological Constraints :
The Okavango Delta Management Plan goal is to conserve the ecological character or the
Okavango Delta ecosystem and promote sustainable development activities. Any form of inwater aquaculture such as cage culture is thus an undesirable technique due to its potential
impact on the pristine and oligotrophic ecosystem, and the potential conflict with tourism and
fishing activities.
Alien species such as Nile tilapia cannot be considered due to biodiversity considerations in
the Delta.
The ecology of the Okavango floodplains renders them unsuitable for pond development.
24
SOGES

Biophysical Constraints :
Water availability varies considerably with season and global weather cycles, particularly in
the southern Delta near the commercial infrastructure hub of Maun.
High porosity of the sandy soil makes it unsuitable for earthen ponds.
Low winter temperatures effectively limit production to the summer months, unless fish are
housed in an enclosed facility which retains heat.
Oxygen levels plummet when flood waters recede due to decomposition of large quantities of
organic matter carried from the floodplains. High mortalities due to low oxygen levels caused
a farm in the western Okavango to be abandoned in the 1980s (Commonwealth Secretariat,
1989).
The indigenous candidate species Three spot bream (Oreochromis andersonni) and red
breast tilapia (Tilapia rendali) are unproven in terms of their production characteristics, and
have not been selected for improved production traits.
Options for aquaculture sites are very limited. Any production facility would probably need to
be land based, utilising pumped ground or river water in a contained facility (e.g. vegetable
tunnels)
Economic Constraints:
The production costs of aquaculture products are higher than wild caught fish, limiting the
market to more expensive products which effectively exclude local communities as a
potential market.
Aquaculture products will require modern processing and packaging facilities in order to
deliver a top-quality product, thereby increasing capital costs and the minimum size
economic production unit.
The Okavango Deltas remote location will increase production costs due to the transport
costs associated with sourcing inputs such as feeds and equipment, and distributing
products to urban centres.
The market size and price for locally farmed bream species is unknown.
The regional market demand and price for catfish is currently too low to justify farming it.
Imported, frozen Chinese Nile tilapia (gutted, whole) are delivered to Maun for approximately
P30/kg and it is unlikely that a local farmed product would be able to compete at this price.
The overall conclusion is that an aquaculture operation in the Delta region would of necessity need
to be a fairly large, vertically integrated, intensive farming operation, with an inherent comparative
production cost or market advantage compared to other regional locations. Under current conditions,
large scale investment in aquaculture would probably be more attractive is neighbouring countries
such as Zambia or Zimbabwe with warmer winter temperatures and closer proximity to urban
markets where fish is consumed.
3.2.3. The Chobe
The Chobe River joins the Zambezi where Botswana borders Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia in the
North East of the country. The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has proposed the construction of a
pipeline linking the Chobe to the North South Carrier, the ultimate purpose of which is to supply
Gaborone with drinking water. A series of development nodes along the length of the pipeline have
been planned in order to promote agro-industry in areas where otherwise there would be insufficient
25
SOGES

water to support it. One of the motivating factors for the development nodes is that payment for the
use of the water by private enterprise will partially ameliorate the construction cost of the pipeline.
The first of these schemes has been proposed for the arable farmlands near Pandamatenga Village,
approximately 60km to the south of the Chobe. A feasibility report commissioned by the Ministry of
Agriculture was recently undertaken by TAHAL, an Israeli engineering group who have successfully
developed similar projects elsewhere in the world (Ministry of Agriculture, 2010). The resulting
document, The Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project Consolidated Feasibility
Report, proposed a 39,000 t.p.a. tilapia farm integrated with chickens, oilseed, flowers, fruit and
other crops. Aquaculture feeds would be manufactured in site from soya oil cake and suitable
processing by-products from the other farming activities. At the time of writing the project had
undergone a due diligence appraisal by Deloittes consultants, but the Ministry of Agriculture had not
commented on the feasibility of the project (Mr Neil Fitt, Agriculture Coordination Hub, pers. comm.,
February 2011). The aquaculture component of the project was generally deemed by individuals
familiar with the project to be over-ambitious primarily due to market constraints. A more prudent
development strategy would be to have a phased development in terms of aquaculture production,
beginning with a minimum economic size production unit, and then growing production in response
to the emerging market demand.
While any future proposed aquaculture development scheme at Pandamatenga would of necessity
require careful planning and economic feasibility analysis, the fundamentals of the concept
potentially provide Botswana with its best opportunity for establishing commercial aquaculture in the
country. The inherent comparative advantages would be:
The scheme provides conditions to achieve a critical production volume justifying the
investment in infrastructure and providing sufficient product to supply regional markets with a
regular supply.
Feeds are made on site from primarily locally grown ingredients greatly reducing feed and
transport costs.
Capital and running cost reduction through synergies with other agricultural and agroprocessing activities.
The clustered nature of the development justifies the dedicated infrastructure and high level
skilled personnel required.
The planned bridge at Kasane into Zambia locates the site on a major transport route and
demand in Zambia is high.
The temperatures in the northern region where Pandamatenga is located are the most
favourable for aquaculture in Botswana.
The use of genetically improved Nile tilapia with good aquaculture production characteristics
could be considered as the proposed irrigation scheme is not situated in a permanent water
course and fish could not escape and invade aquatic ecosystems.
26
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3.2.4. Commercial aquaculture in impoundments

The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) was established by the Water Utilities Corporation Act of
1970 (Laws of Botswana CAP 74:02) with a mandate of providing potable water to Botswana's
urban centres.
A parastatal in the Ministry of Minerals, Energy & Water Affairs, the Water Utilities Corporation's
infrastructure includes five dams, namely Gaborone, Nnywane (near Lobatse), Shashe, Bokaa,
Letsibogo (near Mmadinare) and the North South Carrier water Scheme. The Corporation supplies
clean, safe drinking water to 34% of Botswana's population and takes great pride in being able to
support the potable water requirements that supports mining, manufacturing, commercial and
domestic activities in Sowa, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Gaborone, Lobatse and Jwaneng. Water
quality standards adopted by the Corporation include those of the Botswana Bureau of Standards
(BOBS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In all cases the quality achieved by the Water
Utilities Corporation exceeds the set standards.
The need for storing water in Botswana has resulted in the development of many storage dams in
the country. Various projects have been conceived for developing commercial aquaculture in these
dams, using cage technology, or for pumping water from the dams. There are problems with both
approaches:
Fish reared in cages cannot forage for natural food and therefore require feeding in the form
of a pelleted diet. Pelleted diets are expensive and the feed contains macronutrients (nitrates
and phosphates) which enrich the water. Enriched water supports the growth of microalgae
which adds significantly to the expense of processing the water to the purity required for
human consumption. WUC have a policy to restrict nutrification of municipal dams for this
reason.
Extracting water from the major storage dams in a country with the limited water resources
and erratic rainfall patterns such as Botswana, is inherently problematic. Water in Botswana
is a strategic resource and in times of drought it is unlikely that WUC would favour
aquaculture over people.
The carrying capacity of dams for supporting aquaculture has however never been investigated. It is
not known at what scale an aquaculture operation would start to compromise water quality. Carrying
capacity models are readily available and should be applied so that policy decisions can be made on
the basis of calculated figures (whether cage aquaculture would compromise water quality and at
what scale the threshold to water treatment would be reached
The other impoundments in the country are smaller cattle watering and irrigation dams, neither of
which are suitable for commercial aquaculture. Pumping subterranean water has restrictive cost
implications.
27
SOGES


The only area with suitable water and ambient temperatures suitable for commercial aquaculture
would be in the north of the country where water could be extracted from the Chobe-Zambezi
system.
28
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4. Culture Species
Botswana has a diverse indigenous fish population. Two groups of fish are suitable for aquaculture
in Botswana: catfish and various bream species (members of the tilapia family).
4.1. Catfish
The African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) occurs throughout Botswana in permanent as
well as temporary water bodies. Culture technology for catfish farming is well developed regionally
and these skills could be easily transferred to Botswana. Clarias have the ability to breath
atmospheric oxygen via lung-like structures in their heads. They can therefore be cultured at very
high densities (up to 500kg/m3) with little water exchange. Under the right conditions they exhibit fast
growth, favourable food conversion ratios (FCR), can be fed with diets low in fishmeal and are
extremely hardy and disease resistant. Biologically, they are thus good aquaculture candidates
(Hecht, 1993; Uys, 1993).
There are however substantial problems with the marketing of catfish. The potential for local
marketing is poor and it was primarily for this reason that the industry largely collapsed in South
Africa (Hecht, 1993; Uys, 1993). The beliefs of certain religious groups prevent their consumption
because of their lack of scales and people by and large prefer bream. Some Batswana do eat
catfish, but it fetches a low price.
There are also issues with export markets. Foremost among these is that in comparison with other
catfish species that are available to farmers in the Americas (Ictalurus spp.) and the Far East
(Pangassius spp.), Clarias is poorly accepted. African catfish fillets tend to be off-white, and often
contain visible traces of blood (Hecht, 1993; Uys, 1993).
A potential market for catfish exists in central and west Africa, but to penetrate these markets catfish
would need to be cultured at very large economies of scale or waste heat to compensate for
suboptimal temperatures found in Botswana.
Unless significant efforts are made to develop a favourable product and improve its image, catfish
will not fetch prices high enough to warrant commercial production.
4.2. Tilapia
Botswana has a diversity of indigenous tilapine species, especially in the Okavango Delta (Merron
1988). Most of these species are however not ideal for aquaculture because they either exhibit slow
growth or do not attain a large enough size (Chervinsiki, 1982; Merron 1998). Oreochromis
andersonii (three spot tilapia); O. macrochir (green head tilapia) and Tilapia rendalii (red breasted
tilapia) have all been cultured in Botswana at some point with no sustainable commercial success
(Commonwealth Report, 1989). The Mozambican tilapia (O. mossambicus) is an additional
indigenous candidate specie for Botswana which occurs in catchments flowing into the Limpopo
system (Gordon O Brian, Pers Comm, 2011; Shaft Nengu. Pers. Comm., 2011). The growth rate of
29
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this wild species is low in comparison to the Nile tilapia, reducing its appeal as an aquaculture
candidate species (Balarin & Haller, 1982).
The problem with using wild species for aquaculture is that they are genetically adapted for survival
rather than growth (Chervinsiki, 1982). The non-indigenous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has
been selectively bred for faster growth and improved fillet yield, and has emerged as the foremost
species for aquaculture in the world (FAO 2010). The Nile tilapia GIFT (genetically improved
farmed tilapia) strain is now used extensively in commercial facilities throughout the tropics,
including other sub-Saharan African countries (e.g. Zimbabwe and Zambia). Improved tilapia strains
are significantly more profitable to culture than wild species and the technical requirements of
farming them (e.g. breeding and nutrition) have been established (Balarin & Haller, 1982).
Commercial aquaculture in Botswana would profit from the introduction of improved tilapia strains.
However, the biological mechanisms that have allowed for genetic improvement of tilapia species
also pose a biodiversity risk (Wohlfarth & Hulata, 1981).
Due to biodiversity considerations, the DWNP Fishery Division is reluctant to issue permits for the
introduction of O. niloticus, however, a permit may be issued after strict consideration of the culture
system and the ecological and biodiversity implications.. Tilapia are reproductively very plastic, and
interspecific hybridisation is commonplace (Wohlfarth & Hulata, 1981). If foreign species introduced
for aquaculture were to escape, they could present a real threat to indigenous tilapia biodiversity and
could be particularly damaging to sensitive conservation areas such as the Okavango Delta. These
biodiversity considerations confine tilapia aquaculture to indigenous species for farming in sensitive
aquatic habitats such as the Okavango delta. However, Nile tilapia and their hybrids are present in
Mmadinare Dam and the Limpopo catchment. Improved Nile tilapia could thus potentially be
cultured in these catchments without impacting biodiversity. Importing new tilapia stock would
require very strict biosecurity procedures to ensure that 1) they were properly quarantined to prevent
the introduction of infectious diseases and parasites (such as EUS), 2) the farmed fish could not
escape into nearby water bodies.
The potential also exists for improving the genetics of indigenous Botswana species. The best
candidate for this would probably be O. andersonii which grows to a large size and is a generalist
feeder capable of digesting plant matter. Work in this regard is being conducted by the newly built
Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute (KIFI) in Namibia. It would make sense for the DWNP
Fisheries Division to join this research effort as a collaborator, rather than invest in its own
aquaculture research facilities in the Okavango region.

Protocols governing the use of foreign tilapia strains need to be established and indigenous strains
need to be developed, preferably though collaboration with regional facilities
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5. Markets
5.1. Local market
Besides import statistics for fish products, there is no published data on the market demand for fish
in Botswana. The information presented here was a result of stakeholder consultations and informal
communications in Botswana.
Botswana has a small population of approximately 2 million people (CIA 2011), who are not
historically a fish eating nation. Only small communities in and around the Okavango Delta and
Chobe river systems have traditionally included fish as part of their diet. This is changing, especially
in urban areas where an educated and increasingly empowered population are aware of the health
benefits and culinary opportunities that fish provides. Botswanas per capita income of roughly USD
6,742 as of 2007 makes it a middle-income developing country (US Commercial service, 2009).
Most of the fish consumed in Botswana is imported: 2,382,086 kg (at a value of P43,245,) and
2,931,723 kg (at a value of P57,473,837) were imported during 2009 and 2010 respectively. The
majority of this was in the form of tinned pilchards and sardines from Namibia and South Africa
(Appendix 4).
Low fish consumption in Botswana is generally not linked to a cultural taboo against eating fish1, but
rather a lack of regular availability and knowledge on preparation (Oarabile 2006). This has been
confirmed repeatedly during this study by a variety of stakeholders. The project technical team took
the opportunity to informally interview a range of people they encountered during their travels in
Botswana: from taxi drivers, farmers and waiters to lodge managers and business people. All
responded that they enjoyed eating fresh fish and would eat more if it were more readily available.
Most fish consumed in urban areas is imported from South Africa in the form of frozen hake
products or tinned pilchards, both marine in origin. There is a small market for high value frozen
fillets in supermarkets and restaurants in urban areas and in tourist lodges and hotels. An informal
inspection of supermarket freezers revealed that frozen tilapia fillets imported from South Africa
(most likely of Chinese origin) were being sold for P85/kg, while frozen whole fish were being sold at
P32/kg. This contrasted with well packaged and presented South African hake fillets in adjacent
freezers that were priced at only P60 per kg. This indicated a particular demand for frozen,
freshwater fish in Gaborone.
Figure 4. Roadside fish seller in Gaborone
Certain local religious groups do not eat fish without scales such as catfish.
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Historically, the main consumers of fish in the urban centres have been people with a traditional
culture of eating fish; namely people of West and Central African, or Asian descent. The local
market however does appear to be growing as urban educated Batswana start to diversify their
diets.
A small amount of freshwater fish is marketed and sold in the urban centres mostly by informal
traders selling dried or fresh fish on the roadside. At an informal fish market in Gaborone, the fish
were primarily catfish and O. mossambicus, being sold per piece; P20 for small fish (up to about
800g) and P40 for larger fish (up to 3kg) gutted and head on. The fish were fresh and appeared to
be of good quality.
An interview with a small farmer outside of Gaborone who has marketed tilapia grown at his small
holding, as well as imported product from Zimbabwe, suggested that there was a market for
approximately 10 tons per week of fresh tilapia (head on, gutted) to the Gaborone market. He has
not attempted to produce to meet the market demand because of the capital cost involved. He would
need to invest in temperature controlled facilities to ensure consistent growth of fish in summer and
survival of the stock through winter, as well as processing facilities close to town.
A former owner of a Pick n Pay supermarket in Gaborone related that the store had imported
tilapia from Lake Harvest in Zimbabwe, and which has created a growing demand for the product.
Weekly imports of 500kg stock would typically sell out in two days. However, the supply became
unpredictable and the demand quickly fell away once this happened.
The majority of the demand for tilapia in Botswana is currently satisfied by cheap frozen product
imported via Johannesburg from China. Chinese Tilapia is available in lodges and restaurants
throughout the country. It is imported into Botswana by the company Seafood Wholesalers
(Gaborone) and distributed by Senn Foods countrywide. The price (including delivery to the
customer) is P31.20/kg for whole 300 g fish (gutted and gilled) in individual plastic bags. Vacuum
packed fillets are delivered for P81/kg (Mr Phin Mackenzie, Senn Foods, Francistown. pers comm.,
March 2011). Chinese tilapia were ordered and eaten by the project team in a local lodge and
proved to be of excellent quality and freshness.
The manager of a food distribution company reported that they had been approached by several
aspirant fish farmers wishing to test the market. They had responded positively, indicating they
purchase a locally produced fish as long as it met minimum criteria of quality, presentation and
regular supply a minimum quantity was not prescribed. None of the enquirers had been able to
supply fish to this specification.
Current farm input costs indicate that it would not be possible to produce a locally farmed tilapia at a
price competitive with Chinese imports in Botswana2. The Ministry of Agriculture (though its trade
2
The project technical team aquaculture specialists estimated a local production cost of P30-32/kg assuming
an intensive production system in tunnels, a feed cost of P10.80/kg (imported from South Africa excluding
import duties), and a feed conversion ratio of 1.5.
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policy and the Department of Trade and Industrys (DTI) Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) does
provide some protection for local producers to protect them from imported agricultural products by
means of trade restricting import permits (Ministry of Agriculture, 2011). However, before
government could implement these restrictions, on imported Chinese tilapia for example), local
producers would need to prove that they could supply the market reliably with a quality product.
Competiveness of the local product could be enhanced by creating a trademarked brand for
Botswana Bream and enforcing labelling on imported fish products.

Growing the local market for cultured fish would require a regular supply of farmed product and a
marketing campaign. There appears to be sufficient local market demand to support at least one
commercial tilapia farm producing 100-200 tons per annum. Product differentiation, promotion of a
locally grown, quality product could be means of establishing a competitive advantage for Botswana
farmed fish.
5.2. International markets

The international demand for white fish fillets is increasing, particularly in the EU and the United
States (Fitzimmons 2011; Julian Van Der Nat, TAHAL Group, February 2011). Farmed fish products
in these markets are gaining popularity due to their traceability, quality and consistency of supply.
The market for farmed white fish in the EU is supplied primarily by Pangassius catfish imported from
Vietnam, while tilapia is the most important farmed fish in the American market (Patrick Sorgeloos,
Laboratory of Aquaculture, Gent University. Pers Comm, February 2011). The USA is the largest
international market for tilapia, and growing. It imported 183,400 tons in 2009 with a value of
$696.1m, an increase from the $482.7m imported in 2006 (Fitzimmons 2011).
China accounts for 90% of the frozen tilapia fillet market in the US, while Ecuador supplies 30% of
the fresh fillets. Other major producing countries are Taiwan, Ecuador, Indonesia, Honduras and
Costa Rica (Fitzimmons 2008; Josupeit, 2010). The Chinese supply of tilapia looks set to increase,
as supply of frozen fillets was up 28% year-on-year in first half of 2010 (Josupeit, 2010). Overall, the
international price of tilapia is falling due to an increase in production of the main producing
countries (from $3 per kg in 2008 to $2.77 in 2009) due to a combination of oversupply and world
economic crisis (Josupeit, 2010). The Free on Board (FOB) wholesale price for frozen tilapia fillets
(100-300g) from China in January 2011 was between $2.40-2.60. Fresh tilapia fillets with a US
origin, commanded a wholesale price between $3.60 and $3.90 (Fitzimmons 2008, 201; Josupeit,
2010).
The low international price of farmed tilapia, and lack of a comparative production advantage in
Botswana means that tilapia production as a whole or filleted frozen commodity would be
uncompetitive, either for export or the local market. Alternative marketing strategies would need to
be considered to obtain a price which justifies farm input costs, for example, the supply of fresh,
33
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unfrozen whole fish and fillets to lodges, hotels, restaurants and upmarket retail outlets. The South
Africa market in particular is under supplied with fresh fish.
It is unlikely that frozen Tilapia produced in Botswana would be able to compete with internationally
traded tilapia from established aquaculture countries. Local farmed fish should seek to obtain a price
premium by supplying fresh fish to the local and regional hotel, restaurant and retail market.
5.3. Regional markets

Botswanas neighbours in the region are potential market destination. There may also be a potential
niche demand in South Africa for unfrozen (fresh) tilapia fillets for the high end market (DTI, 2007) .
Nigeria is a potentially large market for aquaculture products including tilapia and catfish where
average
annual
fish
consumption
is
9.2kg
per
capita
(see
static.globaltrade.net/files/pdf/20101213155333.pdf). The urban market for fish in Nigeria is
projected to grow at 3% per year purely through population growth. The market is estimated to have
the potential to consume 2.6 million tons of fish, with an estimated value of $1.8 billion. Total
seafood imports are estimated at $796,250,000. Aquaculture supplied approximately 143,000 tons
in 2008 only 1% of total fishery supply (FAO, 2010).
SADC agreements eliminate border tariffs between signatory nations, keeping the cost of regional
exports lower.
Lake Harvest farms in Zimbabwe have been successfully marketing high quality tilapia products in
the Southern African region for several years, proving the potential. In order to take advantage of
these markets, a realistic model of cold chain distribution would need to be developed and more
information regarding the regional market for farmed fish would need to be compiled, possibly
through divisions of DABP (see below).

The regional market for tilapia is an interesting option that warrants further investigation. Unfrozen
product would command a higher price than frozen fish and have a competitive advantage over
imports from Asia.
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6. Institutional environment
Botswana has established a conducive institutional environment for promoting the development of a
new sector such as aquaculture. The country is characterised by good governance, political stability,
sound financial institutions, a relatively low crime rate, investment in key infrastructure, social
services and citizen education. Botswanas development policies and supporting government and
parastatal agencies have created a favourable investment climate and support exists for
establishing new economic sectors which can diversify the Botswana economy.
6.1 Botswanas Policies to Promote Aquaculture

Botswana does not possess a comprehensive aquaculture sector development policy and strategy,
however the development of an aquaculture industry has been considered by the Botswana
government since the 1980s (Commonwealth Secretariat, 1989; Government of Botswana, 2002;
2010a; 2010b; Ministry of Agriculture, 2010). Aquaculture as a sector is not mentioned in any of
Botswanas legislation, probably because no aquaculture production has become established, and
there has consequently been little need to develop legislative instruments to promote and regulate
the sector.
Since 2003, limited government support has been provided to promote the development of fish
farming through Botswanas National Develop Plans 9 and 10. Government efforts to promote
aquaculture through the Fishery Division of the DWNP stimulated considerable interest in
aquaculture as a small to medium size farming enterprise. However, despite this support, no viable
aquaculture enterprises have emerged in Botswana. The public sector support provided for
aquaculture development in Botswana under various policies is reviewed below, followed by a
diagnostic analysis.
Botswanas national economic development strategies are given substance through its series of
National Development Plans (NDP) which outline specific interventions with budgets and
timeframes. The National Development Plans have been implemented since 1966 with the current
plan being the tenth National Development Plan (NDP 10, Government of Botswana 2009) which
began in 2010. Aquaculture has received limited support both in NDP 9 (2003-2009), and NDP 10
(2010-2016).
Aquaculture and fishery development were included in the NDP 9 (Section 10.70; Government of
Botswana, 2002) as part of Botswanas strategy to diversify its agricultural sector. The NDP 9
(Section 10.95) provided for:The encouragement of fish farming through aquaculture.
The establishment of a fish hatchery at Letsibogo Dam, which resulted in the Mmadinare fish
hatchery which was intended to stimulate interest in aquaculture and provide fingerlings and
technical support to prospective fish farmers.
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Under NP 9, the government Fishery Division, which resided under the Ministry of Agriculture until
its transfer to the Ministry of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism in April 2003, was capacitated to
operate the Letsibogo Hatchery and provide advice and technical assistance to aspirant fish
farmers. This execution of the mandate arising from NDP 9 has continued to the present time
focussing mainly on aspirant small to medium size enterprise development.
The Botswana government has made development finance support available for aquaculture
feasibility studies and financing through the Botswana Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency
(CEDA) and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) as part of their mandates to promote citizen
enterprise and small, medium and micro- enterprise (SMME) development. As far as could be
established, none of the aquaculture business plans received by either LEA or CEDA has been
considered to be viable, and consequently no loans have been granted to prospective fish farmers.
The NDP10 (Government of Botswana, 2010a; 2010b) does not specifically refer to aquaculture as
a sector targeted for development, however, one of the NDP 10 Agriculture strategies is to focus on
the potential for commercial irrigation farming in the northern Pandamatenga area and in areas
bordering new dams (NDP 10, Volume 1, section 9.255). The development of irrigation schemes
creates a potential opportunity for aquaculture development. In order to realise potential competitive
advantages in the agriculture sector, ND10 states that Government will strive to provide the
conditions to attract private investment through provision of infrastructure such as roads, electricity,
water and telecommunications and technology necessary to enhance productivity and production.
(NDP 10, Volume 1, section 9.256).
The above NDP 10 objectives informed the planning and feasibility study for an integrated irrigated
agriculture, aquaculture and agro-processing scheme in the northern Pandamatenga area (Ministry
of Agriculture, 2010a). The proposal, compiled by TAHAL Group Engineering Consultants,
envisaged a 60 km pipeline from the Zambezi River to supply an integrated irrigation scheme which
would include various crops, fruit, and 40,000t aquaculture production of catfish and tilapia. It was
envisaged that the water carrier and infrastructure for the scheme would be funded by government,
while the Tahal group would promote the required private sector investment in the agricultural
activities. At the time of writing, the proposal had just undergone a due diligence appraisal by
Deloittes consultants and the Ministry of Agricultures view on the viability of proposal was still
undecided. Individuals familiar with the proposal were generally of the opinion that the aquaculture
component was over-ambitious, given the uncertainties about the markets for the products and cost
of the scheme. While the fundamental concept of integrating aquaculture with irrigated agricultural
production is a sound one, which merits government support for infrastructure provision, a phased
approach to building the aquaculture production volumes as market demand becomes more certain
would be more prudent.
The Botswana governments Fishery Division was moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to the
Department of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism (MEWT) in 2003 and thus Under NDP 10 initiated
in 2010 (Government of Botswana, 2010b), MEWT was provided with a budget for:
Consultancy services at Letsibogo Fish Hatchery for staff capacity building and skills
development (NDP 10, volume 2, Item 09433).
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The completion of NDP 9 spillover projects for the construction of a fish hatchery at
Letsibogo Dam (NDP 10, volume 2, Item 09434).
The NDP 10 was however silent on the Botswana governments strategic approach to aquaculture
development, and the support to MEWT for the Mmadinare hatchery development was provided in
isolation of any comprehensive goal orientated policy or strategy to promote aquaculture sector
development. As a result, a visit to the facility by the project Technical Team revealed that the
facility is not very effective, in that it lacks clear goals and is constrained operationally by a lack of
running costs, equipment (no vehicle), and relatively inexperienced staff.
Policy and Legislative Diagnostic Analysis
Botswanas interventions in support of stimulating the development of aquaculture are similar to a
support measures provided in other countries, where 1) a state hatchery is established to provide
technology and seed, and 2) development finance is provided to pioneer farmers. While these
support measures are not in themselves inappropriate, what has been lacking is a comprehensive
analysis of the potential of aquaculture in Botswana based on economic fundamentals, the possible
competitive advantages of aquaculture production in Botswana, and constraints to establishing a
new agricultural sector. The current review of the status and potential of aquaculture revealed that
the economic case for aquaculture in Botswana is marginal, that the barriers to entry into
aquaculture for small to medium size enterprises are virtually insurmountable. Thus, a rethink of the
aquaculture strategies emanating from Botswanas NDP9 policy of promoting fish farming is
required as continued commitment of public sector resources to aquaculture promotion with no
apparent support from government in terms of establishment of infrastructure and support services
is wasteful. Options for aquaculture development based upon a holistic evaluation of the status and
potential of aquaculture in Botswana are provided in the ACP Fish II projects Aquaculture
Development Strategy for Botswana.
6.2 Government Departments

6.2.1 Department of Wildlife and National Parks
The Fisheries Division of the DWNP within the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
(MEWT) is the lead agency for aquaculture in Botswana. Fisheries was originally housed within the
Ministry of Agriculture with the primary function of diversifying the opportunities for agriculture and
enhancing livelihoods of rural communities in line with the countrys national development Plans
(NDP) 9 & 10. In 2003, the Fisheries Division was moved to DWNP of the Ministry of Environment,
Wildlife and Tourism where the fisheries component (as opposed to the aquaculture component)
was more logically accommodated.
The Fisheries Division has never had a clear policy directive to follow in terms of aquaculture
development and the staff handle a range of aquaculture related issues including the:
Promotion of aquaculture and dissemination of information
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SOGES

Assisting aspirant farmers with technical information and supporting loan applications.
Assessing land for aquaculture potential.
Issuing licenses for the capture and farming of species.
Making inputs into aquaculture environmental assessments.
Supporting investors interested in large scale aquaculture projects
Organising, funding and conducting training workshops.
Breeding fish and producing fingerlings from Mmadinare hatchery
Distributing fingerlings to clients.
Stocking impoundments with fish and providing extension service for supporting
communities.
In addition, the same Fishery Division staff are responsible for managing natural fish populations in
Bostwanas main rivers and dams, performing fish stock assessment surveys, promoting fishing
among communities, issuing fishing permits, enforcing compliance and responding to issues that
arise such as fish kills.
6.2.1.1 Promotion of aquaculture

DWNP releases a wide range of information with the primary aim of promoting aquaculture as an
economic activity (Mogomotsi Diane, Wildlife Officer in the Information Services Unit, pers. comm,
23 March11). These include:
Regular features and news clips in The Department of Wildlifes weekly radio program
broadcast every Thursday night on national television.
Inserts on the Ministry of Agricultures TV show (in the last 2 years, 3 aquaculture inserts
have been broadcast).
Aquaculture workshops are held to which the press is invited
News bulletins by the press (Mmadinare hatchery was covered on national TV)
School groups are taken to Mmadinare hatchery as an outing as part of their agriculture
syllabus.
These efforts have resulted in a high level of awareness of aquaculture amongst people in
Botswana. As a result of these efforts, a steady stream of entrepreneurs approach the FD for
38
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support with starting aquaculture businesses. The Fisheries Division has developed an internal
procedure for guiding these applicants through the process of starting an aquaculture business.
6.2.1.2. Technical advice
Most aspirant fish farmers have no knowledge of aquaculture besides a little information gleaned
from internet searches. They therefore need to be educated about the basic fundamentals. The
Fisheries Division have produced a number of booklets on aquaculture and supply applicants a
basic guide to aquaculture entitled: Twenty Common questions on Aquaculture and Fish Farming
Guidelines (Appendix 6). Fisheries officers also spend long periods of time in discussion with
applicants educating them. The tone of these consultations is generally encouraging and fisheries
officers are enthusiastic about aquaculture. Up to five fisheries officers spend time following up
applications as part of their general daily duties. The division sees up to 5 applicants a week.
Applicants are received at any time of the day, without appointments and often interrupt the normal
working schedule.
6.2.1.3. Assessment of land
Fisheries officers visit the applicants land if they are requested to do so. Their assessment is
compiled in a letter which is issued to the applicant and normally submitted to Land Board to support
the application for land.
6.2.1.4. Assistance with management plan
Fisheries staff help applicants to compile a management plan which forms part of the business plan
that is submitted to funding agencies for consideration. Despite the efforts of Fisheries (DWNP has
assisted 126 applicants), no small aquaculture businesses exist in Botswana.
Fisheries officers spend a great deal of their time and resources encouraging and supporting wouldbe small scale aquaculture farmers. The applicants also expend their own resources on compiling
their applications, often using professional accountants and business advisors, with associated
costs of travel, etc.. The experience in Botswana to date demonstrates that under current
circumstances, small to medium size aquaculture is not an economically viable enterprise
opportunity. The Fisheries Division should thus re-prioritise its operational focus in terms of
aquaculture to promoting low input stocking of dams, possibly establishing a tiger fish population on
Letsibogo Dam, and providing technical support to any proposed development economically viable
large scale commercial aquaculture. Information dissemination on aquaculture to the general public
should be reactive instead of pro-active to reduce the amount of staff time spent addressing general
enquiries about aquaculture as a small enterprise.
6.2.2 Department of Environmental Affairs

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) within the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and
Tourism has the mandate for implementing Botswanas Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
39
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procedures in respect of aquaculture. Currently the EIA process in Botswana is activated and driven
by the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) as prescribed by Section 6(1a) of the
EIA Act or 2005. This process is associated with a PEIA application form, which should be
completed in consultation with other authorising bodies such as the Department of Water Affairs
(DWA) and the Tawana Land Board (TLB).
A PEIA is a short report informing the DEA that a prescribed activity or development is being
considered. Due to the specific information requirements for aquaculture, the following list of
additional information should be included when the PEIA is being completed for aquaculture:
The production species that is being considered.
The production system that is being considered.
Water requirements and discharge methods.
The main purpose of a PEIA is to provide sufficient information to allow DEA to determine whether a
detailed EIA is required before the implementation of the proposed aquaculture activity. The PEIA
should be submitted at the concept or pre-feasibility study stage of the project cycle in order to
prevent over planning before the necessary authorisation process has commenced.
To facilitate the application process, the form can be accompanied by a management plan that
outlines the environmental impacts and mitigation measures.
Based on the PEIA information, the DEA will either exempt the venture from a full EIA or require that
such an EIA be conducted. The outcome / decision could be subject to certain conditions.
Botswana possesses a variety of institutions geared toward assisting the establishment of new
agricultural industries. A successful beef industry has been built within this environment and as other
novel agricultural sectors (such as ostrich) grow, these institutions are strengthened. The
development of appropriate commercial aquaculture would find ample support within this general
environment.
6.2.3. Ministry of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture (DOA) possess capacity for the implementation of sophisticated
systems and protocols for the development of livestock industries, which could be applied to
aquaculture if the sector was deemed economically viable. The MOA has a good track record when
it comes to supporting agriculture ventures once they have been proven viable. For example when
the ostrich industry reached a critical mass, the government constructed an abattoir to support the
development of the industry (Botswana NDP9). MOA structures that may be relevant to aquaculture
development are described below.
6.2.3.1. The Department of Agricultural Business Promotion (DABP)
The Department of Agricultural Business Promotion (DABP) was established to promote
a commercialized, diversified, sustainable and competitive agricultural sector through business skills
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transfer, market access negotiations, and promotion of agricultural cooperatives and associations.
(http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Ministries/MinistryofAgriculture-MOA/Departments-ofMOA/Department-of-Agricultural-Business-Promotion-DABP/). The various divisions of DABP are
well equipped to support new industries such as aquaculture :
The division of Agricultural Cooperatives is responsible for analysing, formulating, and
implementing agricultural cooperative policies. These include registering, auditing and
inspecting agricultural cooperatives and to monitoring performance of these entities. This
entity could be helpful in setting up clustered aquaculture production units in a development
node.
The Division of Farm Management analyses farm data and uses it to help farmers make
decisions and informs policy. The division also focuses on improving farmers' basic business
skills and conducts micro - surveys, which generate information for project design.
The Division of Agricultural Trade is responsible for promoting International Trade through
participation in Trade Negotiations and implementing and monitoring of trade policies and
agreements.
The Division of Agricultural Marketing of The Department of Agricultural Business Promotion
(DABP) is responsible for analysing, formulating and implementing agricultural marketing
policies and regulations. This includes among other things, providing marketing information,
developing marketing networks and channels, and conducting market research and
intelligence.
6.2.3.2 Aquatic Veterinary Services
The Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory (BNVL) is a public diagnostic laboratory with a small
research component. BNVL is under the supervision of the Director of Veterinary Services and has
some tests accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). The laboratory
has twinning and collaborative arrangements within the region and worldwide. BNVL has capacity to
offer general parasitology, bacteriology/mycology, tissue culture, immunoassay (e.g. ELISA),
molecular diagnostics (e.g. PCR), histopathology, residue analysis, water quality analysis and food
safety control.
There is no specialist in aquatic animal disease diagnostics at BNVL. However there are two officers
trained in fish pathology and introductory fish medicine.
Botswana has legislation that deals with animal health controls (Diseases of Animals Act) and food
safety issues (Food Control Act). Further legislation deals with protection of fish (Fish Protection
Act). These laws are supported by regulations, the most recent being the Fish Protection
Regulations of 2008.
Although there is considerable fragmentation, the role of government institutions provides clearly
defined responsibilities. Department of Veterinary Services deal with certification and animal health
issues, whereas local government authorities and the Ministry of Health cover food safety and
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inspections. Botswana is a signatory of the Aquatic Biosecurity Framework for Southern Africa (OIE
report, 2008). The OIE is in the process of training vets in the subcontinent.
Should commercial scale aquaculture require veterinary certification for exporting products, the
existing structures provide required competent authority, but training in aquaculture and fish health
aspects would be required.
6.3. Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS)

The Botswana Bureau of Standards (www.bobs.co.bw) which was created in 1995 is a parastatal
organization that develops and implements national Botswana standards. Separate government
ministries, parastatals, and private companies can develop standards specifically for their own
institutions, however, only BOBS is recognized by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) and has the authority to create national standards. The procedures used in the development
of standards are tailored to comply with the WTOs code of good practice for the development of
standards.

Botswana has developed sophisticated supporting organisations for the development of a new
agri-business sector such as aquaculture.
42
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6.4. Business and Financial Institutions
The Government of Botswana is committed to creating an attractive climate for investment. Credit
ratings received from Moodys and Standard & Poors for Botswana were the highest given to an
African country, ranking it equally with other successfully developing economies like the Republic of
Chile, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Estonia (US Commercial Service, 2009). Botswana has a strong and
well-managed minerals economy, coupled with a long record of political and macroeconomic
stability. Botswanas financial sector is supported by sound policies and parastatal and private
organisations which are described below.
6.4.1. Foreign investment
The Government of Botswana is committed to creating an attractive climate for foreign investment.
The Government is actively encouraging the development of the private sector through an attractive
taxation regime, the elimination of exchange controls and support for foreign direct investment in
non-mining sectors of the economy. Botswana continues to develop a regulatory framework
favourable to investors. The Government abolished all foreign exchange controls in February 1999.
It has undertaken largely successful efforts to combat crime, including corruption. The Government
has instituted low corporate tax rates, has increased the processing speed of applications for
business ventures and is commitment to transparency.
6.4.2. Commercial Finance
Despite the strong presence of commercial finance institutions and availability of venture capital,
commercial aquaculture in Botswana has not attracted investment. Aquaculture is perceived to be
high risk for a number of reasons:
The primary production technologies have not been proven.
Markets have not been established.
There is no proven track record of commercial aquaculture in Botswana
There is a paucity in Botswana of expertise in aquaculture - aquaculture requires highly
technical and multidisciplinary skills.
Staff of lending institutions are ignorant of aquaculture, and there is no experience of funding
aquaculture within the financial lending institutions against which to benchmark new
applications.
This may change if commercial aquaculture gains a foothold in the country.
6.4.3. BEDIA
The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) is an autonomous
organization established in 1998 to promote investment in Botswana with a special emphasis on
export-oriented manufacturing industries. BEDIA serves as the primary government contact point for
both domestic and foreign investors. Through its One Stop Service Centre, BEDIA provides services
for investor needs and aftercare to both new and existing foreign and citizen-owned enterprises. The
Centre focuses on enabling investors in both the manufacturing and service sectors to secure all
43
SOGES

clearances and approvals as quickly as possible under one roof. BEDIA promotes the sectors
through incoming and outgoing missions as well as through direct mailing campaigns in the targeted
markets, such as the European Union, South Asia, and southern Africa.
6.4.4. IFSC
Botswanas financial services sector is developing rapidly through the International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC), regulated by the Bank of Botswana. The IFSC provides a range of attractive
incentives to foreign investors willing to base operations in Botswana.
6.4.5. CEDA
The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) was established by the Government of
Botswana to provide financial and technical support for business development with a view to the
promotion of viable and sustainable citizen owned business enterprises. CEDA was established in
2001 in response to a recommendation made by the National Conference on Citizen Economic
Empowerment (NCCEE) held in July 1999, in order to introduce the professional management of the
Government financial assistance initiatives and to streamline the numerous projects providing
similar schemes.
The Agency was established to address the need for coherent and holistic support for the
development of small, medium and large scale enterprises through a soft window and packages
offered through the subsidiaries. CEDA offers funding for capital expenditure, stock or working
capital in new and existing business ventures. It also offers training and mentoring for new and
seasoned entrepreneurs and business advisory services to entrepreneurs in various skills as
identified through the needs assessment that is conducted during project monitoring.
CEDA offers a range of products and services which would be relevant to aquaculture:
The Young Farmers Loan offers maximum loan of P500 000 for projects with repayment
periods for loans ranging from 24-60 months depending on the value of the loan. The
interest accruing during the grace period is capitalized
The Ipelegeng Loan is worth 500-500,000 for seasonal arable expenses that include but not
limited to the following: equipment repairs, seeds, fertilizers, fencing, hiring of tractors etc.
Loans are offered for a period not exceeding 12 months at an interest rate of 5% per annum.
The Credit Guarantee enables Botswana citizens 18 years or more and Botswana citizen
wholly owned businesses to bid for contracts that call for guarantees where their credit
worthiness is not known or they do not posses sufficient security, for amounts of P500 up to
P4,000,000. Credit Guarantee Period does not exceed 12 months and is subject to an
arrangement fee of 2.5% charged on the guarantee amount. 1.5% per annum on outstanding
loan amount for guarantees can be requested by the bank on behalf of client. No interest is
charged
44
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Subsidised interest loans are only granted after business plans have been compiled and their
viability assessed. If the loans are granted, the agency will facilitate training opportunities for
management and staff and may also assist with company mentoring.
CEDA has been approached by a number of aspiring aquaculture entrepreneurs over the years.
None of these applications have been approved. CEDA did not send representatives to either of the
aquaculture stakeholder workshops.
6.4.6. LEA
The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) assists with practical advice in the process of conducting
feasibility assessments and preparing business plans. With assistance from LEA, other Government
organs can be consulted in the process to achieve greater cooperation. LEA assistance can pave
the way for possible CEDA funding and a memorandum of understanding exists between the two
agencies.
LEA no longer considers stand alone aquaculture projects, but will assist when aquaculture is
integrated with one of its mandated interests such as horticulture, where irrigation dams could be
stocked with fish and supplemented with feed. LEA is currently involved with several such projects
(Kereemang Moilwa. LEA. Pers. Comm., April 2011).

The financial and business environment favours foreign investment into large scale industrial
manufacturing industries, especially where products are exported (such as large commercial
aquaculture). Funding is also available for small and emerging farmers but thus far these agencies
have not deemed investment in SME aquaculture to be economically viable.
45
SOGES

6.5. Education and Training
Farming fish is a technically demanding activity, requiring high level training and sophisticated
technology. Aquaculture development in many countries has been driven by a well established
education system.
6.5.1. Botswana College of Agriculture
The Botswana College of Agricultures Department of Animal Science and Production offers a four
month aquaculture course run over a full academic semester. The course was originally designed
and taught by Mr Ulf Nermark in 2006. It has been refined and is now taught by Mr Neo Bagwasi. It
is a degree course elective that can be taken by anyone enrolled at the College. The course outline
is attached as Appendix 6. The number of students enrolled in the course has been declining over
the years: 2007 - 140 students, 2008 - 70 students, 2009 - 28 students and 2010 - 22 students (Neo
Bagwasi, Pers. Comm. 2011). This is probably due to the realisation that employment opportunities
within aquaculture in Botswana are limited.
The college has a small recirculation facility for holding some tilapia which is used to teach some
basic techniques such as handling fish, taking length/weight data and fish care. The facility is
however very small and primitive and cannot provide students with real aquaculture experience. The
facility is set up next to the Colleges piggery and it would be ideal if a pond or two could be dug in
the open land next to the piggery where tilapia could be stocked. Piggery waste could be washed
directly into the pond where it would act as fertiliser for enriching the pond. Thus with very little input,
the college would have a more appropriate demonstration unit where students could be taught the
basics of fish farming (Figure 3).
6.5.2. DWNP training courses by international consultants
DWNP sponsor regular aquaculture training programs held at the Mmadinare Hatchery. The course
Fisheries Management and Technology is broad, covering all the basic elements of aquaculture.
The course is attended by Fisheries staff and entrepreneurs interested in starting aquaculture
businesses. There are at least 3 training workshops annually which groups of between 20-30 people
attend. Government funding is made available for transport, food and training.
Figure 5. Botswana College of Agriculture recirculating tilapia system.
46
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6.5.3. DWNP Aquaculture Literature

The Department has compiled several booklets on aquaculture including:
Tilapia Farming Extension Manual. 102pp
Catfish farming Extension Manual 111pp
Twenty Common Questions on Aquaculture (7)
Fish Farming Guidelines.
These booklets are however not generally available, and people looking for information need to
come to the offices of the Department and make photocopies or receive printouts if they request
them.
6.5.4. DWNP Website
Hosted within the website of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, the DWNP features
a page titled: Aquaculture (http://www.mewt.gov.bw/DWNP/article.php?id_mnu=199). The page is
however predominantly about fisheries and there is but a paragraph on aquaculture. The website is
underutilized and has the potential to provide much of the technical background needed by aspirant
farmers, for example the Divisions aquaculture booklets. As requests from entrepreneurs seeking
information on aquaculture take up a great deal of time, web based information could relieve much
of this burden. The website could also link to other relevant government websites; funding agencies
and stakeholder institutions. There is a wealth of information on aquaculture in the region and links
to valuable discussion groups like the Sustainable Aquaculture Research Networks in Sub Saharan
Africa (SARNISSA) would link entrepreneurs to the broader sector.
Botswana has had ADSL in the country since 2006. Although there were only 120,000 official users
in 2009 (http://www.internetworldstats.com/af/bw.htm), Internet Cafes are however available in most
urban centres. Upgrading the website would be a task for an expert in the field.
A variety of technical material and educational resources are available in Botswana. However, there
is a distinct lack of practical aquaculture experience in the country with few people ever having
worked on a functioning commercial fish farm. This has resulted in a general perception that
aquaculture is less technically difficult than it is in reality. Education is thus based on theoretical
knowledge and there is an urgent need to expose DWNP fishery staff to commercial aquaculture
experience.
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7. Infrastructure
7.1. General infrastructure
Botswana possesses an adequate national infrastructure for aquaculture. It has a good transport
and logistical infrastructure, telecommunications, and power generation networks. However, due to
the large size of the country and the small population, this infrastructure is mostly limited to the
urban areas and arteries linking urban areas, leaving much of the rural areas of the country under
serviced. 60% of the population lives in urban or peri-urban areas.
7.2. Agricultural Infrastructure

The agricultural sector is well developed and the intensive agriculture sector provides infrastructure
which could support aquaculture feed development. Commercial feed for agriculture is distributed
throughout the country, particularly for the beef and broiler chicken industries. Raw ingredients for
feed production are generally not produced in sufficient quantity in Botswana. Consequently, most
ingredients and whole feeds are imported, primarily from South Africa. Industrial support capacity
specific to aquaculture is limited and virtually all aquaculture supplies and ingredients need to be
imported.
7.3. Aquaculture infrastructure

7.3.1. Mmadinare Hatchery
Mmadinare hatchery located next to the Letsibogo dam in the Selebi Phikwe region, was funded
through the governments National Development Plan 9 (Figure 4). Construction was initiated in
2006 and fingerling production commenced in 2007 with the final handover of the hatchery facility in
in 2009.
The rationale for establishing the hatchery was to provide fingerlings for the development of rural
small scale aquaculture. The hatchery has the capacity to produce 500,000, 50g fingerlings of mixed
catfish and tilapia per year. The fingerlings are sold for 50 thebe per piece and are transported by
FD to the desired water body. Presently, the hatchery is operating well below its capacity as there is
not yet a high demand for fingerlings. At present 60 broodstock of approximately 450g are being
held. The broodstock are kept outdoors in the summer and are moved into the hatchery building in
winter when the temperature drops.
The facility possesses an administrative centre with reception and offices, a hatchery building with a
sophisticated temperature controlled recirculating biological filter, 5 broodstock ponds and 17
nursery ponds and 3 growout ponds (several of which are covered with plastic agricultural tunnels to
regulate temperature). All the ponds are concrete lined and supplied with through-flowing water from
the dam.
48
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Figure 6. Mmadinare Hatchery at Letsibogo Dam (Selebi-Phikwe)

It is currently staffed by 9 DWNP employees including a groundsman and 2 security guards. Staff
have the following responsibilities:
Collecting broodstock from the dam
Producing fingerlings
Issuing fishing licenses
Environmental monitoring of the dam and patrolling for poachers
The facility has several shortcomings in design and operation, is poorly maintained and is not able to
completely fulfill its mandate. A visit to the facility was made on 31 January 2011, the observations
made during that visit are attached as Appendix 5.

Botswana possesses an excellent general and agricultural infrastructure. The only established
infrastructure for aquaculture is the Mmadinare Government hatchery which is currently poorly
maintained and operating below capacity. Any new aquaculture business in a rural area would
probably require considerable infrastructure installation.
49
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8. Barriers to aquaculture development

The barriers to the development of any industry are a combination of physical conditions and the
perceptions held by those involved in the development. The consultative stakeholder workshops
were extremely useful in identifying these barriers and separating the one kind from the other. It was
of benefit to the stakeholders and for aquaculture in general that the public and representatives from
government could interact so that the various perceptions could be shared. The barriers identified by
stakeholders and the solutions that were discussed informed the platform from which the
development strategy could be launched.
8.1. A nonexistent aquaculture sector and necessary economies of scale

One of the more important issues which needs to be considered when considering the
establishment of a commercial aquaculture business is the issue of scale. There is currently no
commercial aquaculture in Botswana. Any start-up operation would not only need to develop a
growout facility in the form of ponds, tanks or cages where the fish can be reared to harvestable
size, but all other value chain components including:
Seed in the form of quality fingerlings supplied by a hatchery.
Feed of a sufficiently high quality to sustain optimal growth.
Abattoir facilities where fish can be slaughtered.
Processing and distribution of the product to market.
All of these elements would thus need to be financed by the first investor increasing the initial
investment cost. In addition, the lack of an established service industry (e.g. fish health services,
equipment) increases the transaction costs of the farmer who will need to import them at a premium.
This means that any commercial aquaculture venture would need to be completely vertically
integrated and large enough size to achieve an economy of scale. A general rule of thumb for a
vertically integrated tilapia production facility is considered to be a minimum of100 tons per annum
but profitability increases with an increasing production volume. Development and initial running
costs would be several million Pula.
A large scale commercial aquaculture project would be a means to overcome this initial barrier to
entry and establish an aquaculture value chain in Botswana. This would open the way by which
small farmers could find a niche as satellite farmers with growout being outsourced to them.
8.2. Technical skill and experience required for aquaculture

Compared to terrestrial livestock, fish are difficult to culture for a number of reasons:
A knowledge of water chemistry and experience in water management is thus required. Fish
secrete waste directly into their environment and are obliged to respire the same water. They
can therefore easily succumb to toxic build-up of ammonia in the water.
They cannot be easily observed as they live under water. Diseases and stress are only
noticed once the fish start to die. Disease spreads quickly though the aquatic environment
50
SOGES

and it is difficult to eradicate disease once it has occurred and if it grows beyond a certain
point, complete destruction of the stock and dry-out of the ponds is required.
They cannot be easily bred by farmers and seed generally needs to be brought into the farm
from a dedicated hatchery.
There is no culture of keeping or farming fish in Botswana.
Species are essentially wild strains that have not been genetically improved unlike livestock
which has been bred for thousands of years.
Tilapia stunt and catfish tend to cannibalise their siblings.
They need to be carefully handled and preferably not handled at all.
They need to be graded regularly into different size classes to promote ideal growth.
They have numerous predators from frogs to otters and are easy targets for theft.
Farming fish is a high intensity, high input, technically and time demanding pursuit which requires
expensive start-up capital and long term commitment. This has generally not been understood by
aspirant small scale fish farmers in Botswana.
8.3. Access to land and water

Many aspirant aquaculturists, both small scale and large scale commercial have found it difficult to
acquire land for farming fish. Similarly, many aspirant farmers have also expressed frustration with
the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) that they cannot farm fish in dams close to urban centres
which are close to the market.
Mechanisms to address this would be the establishment of dedicated aquaculture zones where land
could be set aside for aquaculture in the warmer part of the country with access to sufficient water.
These aquaculture zones would then be convenient for the establishment of basic infrastructure
such as roads and electricity. It would make sense for aquaculture businesses to cluster within these
zones so that they could benefit from common support systems (e.g. veterinary laboratories and
extension services, abattoirs, processing, transportation, feed, etc.).
8.4. Misconceptions surrounding the viability of aquaculture

As described elsewhere, the conditions in Botswana for small scale commercial aquaculture are far
below optimal. Despite this and the other challenges, aquaculture has been promoted as a viable
and desirable activity for all comers. This has led to frustration and time wasting for small farmers
and the Fisheries Division who spend considerable resources going through the motions of
investigating aquaculture projects, only to be turned down by funding agencies on the basis of nonviable business plans.
This perception is promulgated internationally. The following quote appears in the document Doing
Business In Botswana: A Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Published by the US Commercial
Service in 2009:
There is considerable potential for the development of entrepreneurial fish farming in
Botswana
51
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The only viable small scale aquaculture in Botswana at this stage would be very low input stocking
of existing dams used for irrigation of crops or watering of livestock. This is borne out by the success
of the Fisheries Divisions efforts in stocking dams with fingerlings from Mmadinare Hatchery.
8.5. Inadequate market information

Commercial aquaculture needs accurate information regarding markets so that realistic business
models can be prepared. At present, little is known about either local or regional markets. Adding to
this lack of knowledge is the effect that regular supply would have on the development of a local
market. An additional market dynamic which needs to be understood is the commoditisation of
aquaculture products such as tilapia from China and Pangasius catfish from Vietnam which are
readily available in Botswana. These products should be seen as the benchmark against which a
Botswana produced aquaculture product would have to compete.
8.6. Government red tape

Potential commercial investors have expressed frustration that getting aquaculture operations going
is hampered by government bureaucracy. This is mainly because government does not have a
coherent aquaculture strategy and the various government departments needed for inputs into
aquaculture projects do not have set protocols for dealing with applications. Particular frustration
was expressed with the Water Utilities Corporation, which is allegedly unsupportive of attempts to
approaches to develop aquaculture on or next to dams. A possible solution to this would be to
create a single government contact point for aquaculture which could take up the responsibility of
collecting the required documentation from the various departments. The agency would need a clear
mandate that would have approval at the level of director general. A logical home for this would be
within BEDIA who have coordinated stop investment for other sectors.
8.7. Lack of entrepreneurial skills

Many aspirant farmers have gone through an exhaustive and expensive process of drawing up
business plans, applying for land and collecting technical information only to have their applications
for loans denied from agencies such as CEDA. Often this is perceived as jealousy or someone
within CEDA stealing their ideas. The simple fact around the matter is that CEDA and other
agencies have been acting responsibly according to their mandate. Aquaculture projects are rightly
refused on the basis of unsound business plans being submitted. One of the most sorely needed
skills amongst aspirant farmers are sound business skills. Although support for this is available from
LEA and CEDA, applicants need to be empowered to do the sums themselves and adapt their plans
according to the feedback received from funding agencies. Instead of reworking the numbers,
applicants often lose faith and give up. The essence of entrepreneurship is being flexible and never
giving up.
52
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In order for the barriers preventing the development of aquaculture to be overcome a realistic
assessment of aquaculture needs to be made and solutions found that suit the prevailing conditions
53
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9. Conclusion
The efforts of DWNP in stocking impoundments with hatchery produced fingerlings demonstrates
that subsistence aquaculture is worthwhile activity that should be expanded.
Conditions for commercial aquaculture in Botswana are limited by biophysical and market
constraints. Botswana is at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighbouring countries. The
strategy of promoting SME aquaculture as a business opportunity for small farmers and
entrepreneurs has not resulted in farmers becoming established, and should be reviewed. As an
aquaculture value chain is not established in Botswana, a vertically integrated commercial operation
of at 100t p.a. will be required to establish economically viable production. An enabling environment
for investment into aquaculture is required which requires cooperation between government
departments to provide the necessary incentives and services, particularly access to land and water.
An exciting new opportunity is the stocking of fish, such as tiger fish, in dams for recreational angling
to attract tourism development.
Botswana possesses a well developed institutional environment which can be harnessed to promote
the opportunities that aquaculture offers, but structures and processes to coordinate the contribution
of various government departments will be required.
54
SOGES
10. Draft Aquaculture Development Plan for Botswana

The draft aquaculture strategic plan for Botswana is presented below. It is divided according sectoral
activity areas, visibly:
6) Subsistence Aquaculture
7) SME Aquaculture
8) Commercial Aquaculture
9) Aquaculture-based Recreational fishing and Tourism
10) Aquaculture Development Strategy : Cross-cutting issues.
The recommended Strategic and Operational Objectives for each section are classified under
Thematic Areas namely :Institutional
Research and Technology Transfer
Production
Training and Information Dissemination
Markets
Ecological
A recommended time frame is attached to each operational objective, namely, 1 , 3 , 5 and 10
years.

10.1. Subsistence Aquaculture Strategic Plan

Strategic
Objective
Key Issues
Operational Objective
Thematic Area: Institutional

Provide
public 1.1
sector support
for subsistence
aquaculture to
promote
food
security
Subsistence
aquaculture is a noncommercial
activity
which
requires
Government support
DWNP takes responsibility for subsistence

aquaculture, stock enhancement and
community extension services. DWNP
provided with resources to expand dam
stocking
and
community
extension
programme in support of poverty
eradication and food production. (Year 1)
Thematic Area: Research and Technology Transfer

Improve
1.2
technology for
stock
enhancement of
dams
Live fish transport
DWNP acquires a live fish transport unit

with oxygen (Year 1)
Thematic Area: Production

Provide
sufficient
fingerlings
stocking
1.3
for
Mmadinare hatchery is An operational and resource plan for

under resourced and DWNP Mmadinare hatchery to supply
requires maintenance
sufficient fingerlings (Year 1-2)
Thematic Area: Training and Information Dissemination

Provide
extension
support
communities
1.4
to
Communities
require DWNP extends it extension capacity and
information
on
fish supporting training materials
harvesting,
handling,
consumption,
dam
management
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10.2. SME Aquaculture Strategic Plan

Thematic Area: Institutional and Organisational
Strategic
Objective
Key Issues
Government
2.1
create
an
enabling
environment for
viable
SME
aquaculture
SME under present 1. Government extend support from

circumstances is not promotion and advice to on-farm research
economically viable as a and pilot project promotion (Year 1)
stand-alone enterprise
2. Government consider start-up capital
grants and subsidies on supplies and
services such as feed to support pioneer
farmers

Benchmark
technology
required
SME
aquaculture
production
systems
2.2
Economic feasibility
Benchmark
expected
production
performance and costs, expected product
prices into a business plan model. (Year 1)
2.3
Pilot
project
on
integrated
aquaculture/agriculture
system
Pilot project with existing small farmer

close to DWNP offices. Benchmark
production performance, input costs, etc.
(Year 1-3)
for
Thematic Area: Production

Viable
production
models required
2.4
Integrated
needs
assessment
farming Produce a production and cost model for

viability different integrated farming options. (Year
1)
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10.3. Commercial Aquaculture Strategic Plan

Thematic Area: Institutional
Strategic
Objectives
Key Issues
Commercial
Aquaculture
(100t+ p.a.)
Create
an 3.1
enabling
institutional
environment for
investment into
commercial
aquaculture
Information
on
the
economic feasibility of
commercial aquaculture
in Botswana lacking
Conduct a financial, technical, and market

feasibility study for at least one
commercial aquaculture site for clustered
development (i.e. commercial anchor
tenant plus satellite SME farmers) of
sufficient size to establish an aquaculture
value
chain.
Appoint
a
suitable
government or parastatal agency to lead
the feasibility study (Year 1-2)
3.2
Excessive red tape and

lack
of
coordination
between
government
departments constrains
aquaculture
project
development
Create a inter-departmental aquaculture

task team to coordinate the departmental
mandates and support required to
establish
clustered
commercial
aquaculture site(s) (Year 1-2)
3.3
Prospective
investors
need to be informed of
the
opportunities
provided by Botswanas
aquaculture
development strategy
Identify a suitable government or

parastatal agency to market any proposed
development
project to prospective investors. (Year 35)
Thematic Area 2: Research and Technology Transfer

Establish
technology
required
intensive
aquaculture
production
systems
3.4
for
Economic feasibility of Perform an economic feasibility study on

intensive
systems the design of a minimum viable intensive
unknown
aquaculture production unit for different
production systems.
Compare input production costs between
Botswana and neighbouring countries to
determine
whether
a
comparative
58
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advantage exists.
3.5
Viability of cage culture Technical and economic feasibility study

on large dams unknown required on cage culture in large dams
(e.g. dam carrying capacity, water quality
impacts, production performance)
3.6
Establish an improved Import a disease free Nile tilapia strain for

tilapia
strain
with Mmadinare Hatchery (Year 2-3)
competitive production
traits
3.7
Water
of
25-30C Assess economic viability of tunnel
required for competitive systems (Year 1-3)
growth rates
Identify sites with industrial waste heat
that could be used to heat water (Year 15)
3.9
All male tilapia required
Establish all male tilapia sex reversal

technique at Mmadinare Hatchery (Year
1-2)
Thematic Area 5: Production

Establish
commercial
aquaculture
production
3.10 Access to sites with Government to zone land and/or water

land,
water, and provide infrastructure for at least one
infrastructure required
site to attract commercial aquaculture
investment (Year 2-5)
10.4. Aquaculture Based Recreational Fishing and Tourism

Strategic
Objective
Key Issues
Thematic Area: Institutional and Organisational

Create
an 4.1
enabling
institutional
environment for
tourism
Tigerfish and other sport

fish offer an opportunity
to establish recreational
fishing
and tourism
facilities in Mmadinare
Conduct a financial, technical, and market

feasibility study on establishing a (i) tiger
fish and other recreational species
population and (ii) tourism facilities on
Mmadinare and other appropriate dams.
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development
from
aquaculture
based fisheries
and other dams
Identify a suitable government or parastatal

agency to lead the feasibility studies (Year
1-2)
4.2
Coordination
public sector
required e.g.
WUC,
Botswana
Organisation,
Water Affairs.
Create an inter-departmental dam fishery

tourism task team to coordinate the
departmental mandates and support
required to (i) plan establishing a tigerfish
(or other sport fish) population and (ii)
establish tourism facilities on suitable dams
(Year 1-3)
4.3
Fish need to be sourced Design a tiger/sport fish introduction project

and stocked by DWNP
led by DWNP based at Mmadinare. (Year
2-4)
between
agencies
DWNP,
SPEDU,
Tourism
Dept
Thematic Area: Technology

Establish
4.4
technology
required
for
introducing tiger
fish
to
Mmadinare
Tiger/sport fish transfer DWNP to provide facilities and manpower

and
culture to facilitate sourcing of tiger fish from
undeveloped
Limpopo catchment for direct stocking into
Letsibogo Dam and tigerfish aquaculture
project at Mmadinare
Thematic Area: Markets

Angling Tourism 4.5
Market
Requirements of the Undertake market research on recreational

angling tourism market tiger fish and other sport fish anglers to
unknown
determine what they require from an
angling tourism destination
10.5. Aquaculture Development Strategy: Cross-cutting Issues

Strategic
Objective
Key Issues
Thematic Area 1: Institutional

Establish
an 5.1
enabling
environment for
aquaculture in
Botswana
Lack of an established
aquaculture value chain
and service industry
constrains aquaculture
enterprise development
Government to provide appropriate

organisational support, capital grants, and
infrastructure to attract initial investment
and reduce pioneer transaction costs.
Year 1-10
60
SOGES

due to high transaction

costs.
Aquaculture
5.2
mandate should
be moved to
Ministry
of
Agriculture
Aquaculture is currently
not
receiving
the
government
support
and services currently
provided
to
other
agricultural sub-sectors.
Initiate a process to move aquaculture

mandate from Ministry of Environment,
Wildlife and Tourism to Ministry of
Agriculture. Year 1-3
Maintain
5.3
effectiveness of
ADSB
New
technologies, Create monitoring and evaluation protocol
policies and procedures for ADSB to gauge performance and fine
require assessment and tune activities. Year 1-5.
adaptation

Undertake
5.4
research
and
promote
technology
transfer
to
support
the
establishment of
aquaculture in
Botswana
Aquaculture
research Establish an aquaculture research, training
capacity is lacking
and project support hub at Mmadinare
Hatchery
5.5
Information
on Undertake
research
on
production
performance of local performance and genetics of local tilapia
tilapia species lacking
species and hybrids
5.6
A facility for aquaculture

research on Okavango
and Zambezi system
species is lacking
Perform benchmarking research on tunnel,

cage and pond culture systems at
Mmadinare Hatchery
Recruit an experienced aquaculture
researcher to be based at Mmadinare
Hatchery who will lead research and
mentor staff
Cooperate with the Kamutjonga Inland

Fisheries Research Institute in Namibia on
aquaculture
potential
of
Okavango
aquaculture species such as three spot
bream (Oreochromis andersonni) and red
breast tilapia (Tilapia rendalli).
Thematic Area: Training and Information Dissemination

61
SOGES

Provide
5.7
education and
training
to
support
requirements of
Aquaculture
development in
Botswana
DWNP aquaculture staff

require
further
education, training and
experience
in
production techniques
Enroll at least one staff member for MSc

level post-graduate training in aquaculture
(Year 2-5)
Provide internships to all DWNP
aquaculture
staff
on
commercial
aquaculture facilities in other countries
(Year 2-5)
Provide
5.8
extension
support
to
communities for
subsistence
aquaculture
Communities
require DWNP extends it extension capacity and
information
on
fish supporting training materials (Year 1-3)
harvesting,
handling,
consumption,
dam
management
Provide
and 5.9
disseminate
information on
aquaculture to
the public
Media promotion of
SME aquaculture not
yielding
desired
outcomes
Reduce active media promotion of SME

aquaculture to reduce demand on DWNP
staff time from prospective SME farmers.
Refocus on subsistence aquaculture
promotion. Year 1.
Develop aquaculture information provision
protocol which reduces demand on staff
time. Year 1-2.
Improve aquaculture content of DWNP
website. Year 1-2
Provide appropriate print matter on the
basics of aquaculture. Year 1.
Thematic Area: Markets

Supply
the 5.10 Size of market and
Botswana
price
obtainable
market
with
unknown
locally produced
5.11 Secure
competitive
fish
advantage
of
local
product
Undertake research on the size of the

markets and prices for fresh water fish
products in Botswana
Enforce labelling for imported product
Trademark Botswana Bream
Supply regional 5.12 Size of market and Undertake research on the size of the
market
with
price
obtainable
is market and prices for fresh water fish
Botswana
62
SOGES

farmed fish
unknown
products in the region
Thematic Area: Ecological

Prevent exotic 5.1
farmed fish from
invading
sensitive
aquatic
ecosystems
National
aquaculture Map catchments which contain Nile tilapia
zonation system
and hybrids and those which have not yet
been invaded.
Define catchment zones within which 1)
stocking of dams and 2) intensive farming
of Nile tilapia will be permitted
Undertake a campaign to educate anglers
on the effect of translocation of exotics
and the zones where Nile tilapia can and
cannot be distributed.
5.2
Prevent
5.3
introduction of
new
fish
diseases
and
parasites
to
Botswana
Escape prevention
Intensive fish farms required to be

designed to prevent escape of fish into
natural water courses
Live fish imports
Live fish imports to be undertaken under

government supervision
Live fish imports to be certified disease
free in country of origin
Live fish imports to be quarantined
according to FAO/ ICES guidelines for
introduction of exotic species
63
SOGES

References
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February. Food and Agriculture organization of the United nations. May 1996.
ALCOM 1996b. Aquaculture for local development and utilization of small water bodies in southern
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ALCOM 1999. Compendium of the results of the ALCOM aquaculture programme for smallholder
farmers in Southern Africa. Food and Agriculture organization of the United nations. May
1996.
Balarin, J.D. & R.D. Haller. (1982). The intensive culture of tilapia in tanks, raceways and cages. In
J.F. Muir and R.J. Roberts (Eds.), Recent advances in aquaculture (pp. 265-355). Croom
Helm, London, England.
Brugre, C. and Ridler, N. 2004. Global aquaculture outlook in the next decades: an analysis of
national aquaculture production forecasts to 2030. FAO Fisheries Circular No 1001. Rome,
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Business Information Guide for Start up Tilapia and Catfish farming operation using the reticulated
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Business Information Guide for a Commercial Tilapia and Catfish farming operation using the
reticulated aquaculture settling tanks system. Technical Specification System layout Bill of
Material Cash Flow analysis. 11pp. (DWNP Botswana).
Chervinsiki, J. (1982). Environmental physiology of tilapia. In R.S.V. Pullin and R.H. LoweMcConnell (Eds.), The Biology and Culture of Tilapia (pp 119-128). ICLARM Conference
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DWNP (undated). Mmadinare Fish Hatchery Facility Management manual.42pp.
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2010.
State
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Fisheries
http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1820e/i1820e00.htm
and
Aquaculture
(SOFIA).
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Fitzsimmons 2008. Global Update 2008: Tilapia, Production, Innovations and Markets Aquaculture
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Hartley-Alcocer. 2007. Tilapia as a global commodity: A potential role for Mexico? Ph.D. Thesis,
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17-26
Hecht T. 2000. Considerations on African aquaculture. World Aquaculture Vol 31(1): 12 19.
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Fisheries Circular. No. 1017/5. Rome, FAO. 97 p.
Josupeit (2010) World Supply and Demand of Tilapia (FAO); p.4
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Mmadinare fish hatchery facility operators manual. Dept wildlife and National Parks. 38
Mmadinare fish hatchery facility water quality management manual.23
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Mostlhane, L.A. 1997. The potential of Aquaculture in Botswana. Literature review in partial
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International centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management. Manila, Philippines.
66
SOGES

Appendices
Appendix 1. Consultative workshop: Gaborone 24th March 2011: Programme;
Attendance Register; Discussion.
PROGRAMME
Development of an Aquaculture Strategy for Botswana, Gaborone International Convention
Centre, Gaborone, 24 March 2011
08h30 Registration
09h00 Opening prayer
09h05 Introduction of Delegates/ Participants
09h15 Welcome Remarks MEWT/DWNP representative
09h20 EU ACP 2 programme and workshop objectives S. Nengu DWNP
09h30 Botswana Aquaculture Potential and Constraints P. Britz SOGES
10h15 Issues of clarity, general comments
10h30 Tea
11h00 Institutional/ Organisational Requirements for Sector Development presentation P. Britz
11h30 General Discussion
13h00 Lunch
14h00 Further discussion
15h00 Summary and way forward
15h15 Closing remarks vote of thanks MEWT/DWNP representative
15h30 Tea
Attendance Register
Name
Surname
Organisation
email
tel no 1
tel no 2
67
SOGES

Jonathan
Babui
Baumake
Diamond
Hassen
Neo
Malaki
Lekgotla
Oratile
Hussain
Baguwasi
Bowane
Kgaswanyane
Phemelo
Richard
Kolobetso
Moleofe
mmolawa
Innocent.S
Obokeng
Sister
Patricia S
Gontle
Gorata
Olerile A
Ntesung
Trevor
Daniel
Tshekiso
Benjamin
DS
Botshelo
Raikane
Ovela
Lenah
Omphile
Ditiro
Keodiretse
Gothataore
Isaac
D
Solly
Kabelo
Michael
Jan
Koketso
Lankie
Swabatihe
Thatayaone
Kelebogile
Leatile
Khruschen
Kereemang
Valella
Bogwasi
Ntakhwana
Notmabane
Bamotoga
Moeng
Julian
Van Der Nat
Ntlole
Merafhe
Magawe
Orapeleng
Bamotsetse
Mmopelwa
Chidu
Tesalo
Mpofana
Matoto
Sebekedi
Malatsi
Mabotseng
Dekoker
Baeti
Kefetole
Setshwane
Makati
Bale
Motshwane
Sebolao
Moilwa
WUC
Farm
Notwane
BCA
DABP-AGRIC
LEA
LEA
Madinonyane
Fish & bird
Farm
The Florist
Masunyama
Investment
DABP-Agric
jbaumake.wuc.bw
Fatima@itsbots.???
nbaguwasi@bca.bw
mbowane@gov.bw
Lkgaswanyane@lea.co.bw
Ukgaswanyane@lea.co.bw
72201307
7447114
74476094
74121793
72613160
moloefe@hotmail.com
kmmolawa@yahoo.co.uk
73932520
73187410
botshelo@mopipi.ub.bw
oraikane@gov.bw
71625774
73689603
Olcan Watt Orchard

BOPA
gmerafhe@gov.bw
DWNP
magaweg@yahoo.com
DWNP
oorapeleng@gov.be
Self
Self
Global Post
dchida@yahoo.com
Guardian
tshekisoboman@gmail.com
AG Pine
na
M&A
dmatoto@gov.bw
Sunday
Standard
omphilevalela@yahoo.com
ECHO
bogwasilenah@yahoo.com
BOPA
ontakhwana@gov.bw
Guardian
ditirom@yahoo.com
Self
na
NMEGI
gothataoremoeng@gmail.com
Self
Self
Self
Wildlife
Water Affairs
Mmasenyetse
DWNP
DWNP
The Mirror
Self
Self
LEA
TAHAL
Group
73617828
72740822
71380485
73653575
74383060
74237363
71622328
71759805
74358623
72767954
72102331
71538469
72586460
72158738
74595870
73908432
71737762
72740513
73650339
71625857
71622220
74345035
73590605
3921485
3913295
3653522
3974784
na
na
na
jdekoker@gov.bw
kbaeti@gov.bw
72689347
75127371
72552154
71897831
71809465
75450684
ssetshwane@gov.bw
74136796
thatama@yahoo.com
71290738
kelebogilebale@gmail.com
71989010
leafile.motshwane@yahoo.com 72244330
72228363
kmoilwa@lea.co.bw
72179277
julian.vandernat@gmail.com
72647417
68
SOGES

Sesamesa
Kesego
Montshwari
Shaft
Taolo
Ogopotse
Mawmo
Kutoro
Molefe
Nengu
Cyril
Pule
Jelena
Ivancevic
Self
DWNP
DWNP
DWNP
DWNP
DWA
Tourbo
Magazine
sesamesamalso@yahoo.com
kekutoro@gov.bw
molefe@gov.bw
snengu@gov.bw
ctaolo@gov.bw
obpule@gmail.com
72745560
71356260
74095928
73191047
73191048
73620682
jelena_ivancevic@yahoo.com
71798193
Discussion of Botswana Aquaculture Potential and Constraints

Entrepreneur: Leatile Motshwane
Mr. Motshwane asked why Brussels has to have the final say over the project.
SOGES: Professor Peter Britz
Prof. Britz answered that the project proposal came from Botswana and Brussels is being guided by
what Botswana wants, not the other way round.
Director of Fisheries in the DWNP: Shaft Nengu
Mr. Nengu responded that the EU is funding the project. They are interested in making sure that the
product is of a sufficient quality. If Botswana does not agree that the product is of a certain quality,
the EU would not accept it.
Fish farmer in Mogotsane: Richard Moleofe
Mr Moleofe suggested that regarding the constraints of the country [size] that the most important
thing was to place aquaculture projects in clusters. An example of this was the way ostrich farming
was clustered in Outshoorn in South Africa. A good example in Botswana was the Ghantzi cluster
beef farming cluster. It is successful because services can be delivered efficiently. He suggested
that SOGES consider this in their report.
Prof Britz responded that this was an excellent suggestion and has been applied in many countries.
Clusters could be helped by government in the form of infrastructure (such as roads or water
supplies) and other synergies. The concept of aquaculture parks or clusters occurs worldwide. In
Australia and Chile for example the concept of joint actions was promoted. This was when 3-4
farms joined together, they could achieve a critical mass which attracted help from government.
The Mirror newspaper: Kelebogile Bale
Ms Bale said that the policy of the land Board was that one person could own plots of a maximum of
5ha. Catfish are large fish and so 5ha would not enough to farm them.
69
SOGES


Prof Britz responded that fish did not necessarily need a lot of water and that anyway, larger ponds
tend to evaporate too much. Catfish did not need much oxygen in the water to grow because they
were air breathers anyway. In Vietnam catfish are grown at 350-400tons /ha. Catfish were therefore
a good fish for farming in small areas. It was rather the marketing side of catfish that was the
problem, not the technical side, although there is a potential market for catfish amongst African
immigrants he said. Government had a responsibility to guide people and provide information
regarding marketing and economics as there was insufficient information for aquaculture farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture: Mr Malaki Bowane
Mr Bowane asked whether there were breeding stock centres in the country and who owned them.
Prof Britz replied that the hatchery at Mmadinare was functioning and fish were available from there
for stocking.
Mr Bowane further asked how water was warmed to cope with winter temperatures.
Prof Britz responded that if fish ponds are placed under vegetable growing tunnels, the temperature
could be raised by about 5C. He warned however that the extra cost of the infrastructure would be
a large investment and would need to be accounted for when doing the business plan. The extra
starting cost would of course mean that the farmer would start from a position of competitive
disadvantage.
Mr Bowane then posed the question whether, besides bream and tilapia, which other species would
be suitable for aquaculture and why Botswana was limited to local species.
Mr Nengu replied that the best species to farm with was Oreochromis niloticus and that the species
had been recorded in the Limpopo river system. Farming them in the SE of the country would not be
a problem, but that it would be a problem if the fish were introduced to the North of the country.
Prof Britz agreed that the government was worried about niloticus interbreeding with fish in the
Okavango. He added that other species to consider were ornamental fish with most species being
imported from Asia but warned that it was a specialist enterprise. Carp were not good from a
70
SOGES

marketing perspective due to their many small bones and so the opportunities were really limited to
the various bream species and catfish.
LEA: Kereemang Moilwa
Mr Moilwa asked whether small enterprise developmental aquaculture projects were non starters in
Botswana.
Prof Britz replied that starting a small scale enterprises as standalone businesses would indeed be
very difficult if they received no additional support. This was because all aspects of the business
would need to be sponsored by the entrepreneur. To overcome this and make small businesses
viable, the sector needed to get creative. One example of enabling effective small scale enterprise
was satellite farmers in South Africa. In this example, the main commercial enterprise was
encouraged (via government incentives) to outsource the growing phase of the fish to small farmers.
The small farmers got their fingerlings and feed from the commercial enterprise and sold their
produce back to them for processing and marketing. This was particularly effective for trout where
the small farmers owned most of the water.
He added that government demonstration projects had not worked in the past as government did not
do business well. The experience in Africa was that none of the government hatcheries had been
successful and that it was too much to expect a small scale farmer to take on farming themselves
and that a commercial scale project was needed to kick off the industry in Botswana.
Mr Moilwa then asked what the difference was between aquaculture and fishing.
Prof Britz responded that there were numerous differences between aquaculture and fishing,
including:
- fishing required a very small investment compared to aquaculture
- the issues that needed to be dealt with were different: for eg the sustainability and management of
the wild stock needed to be considered in fishing
- a different skills set was needed aquaculture needed real entrepreneurs
- aquaculture needed a more coordinated approach than fishing
Aquaculture was therefore not a replacement for fisheries and it was a mistake to encourage
fishermen to go into fish farming. It would be more applicable for farmers to turn to agriculture than
aquaculture because it was so much easier. The only real potential for crossover would be the
fishing of dams that would then be regularly restocked because the input costs (and thus the risks)
71
SOGES

would be low. This as opposed to intensive fish farming where low temperature and poor genetic
strains would be difficult to compensate for.
Mr Moilwa then posed the question whether the low water temperatures and lack of water made
aquaculture non-viable in the Southern part of the country
Agribusiness: Malaki Bowane
Mr Bowane asked whether there were interventions to align policies to cater for aspirant farmers and
whether they could be accomodated around the dams on small plots. If so, he suggested that the
development of pilot projects should not only focus on government run initiatives but that farmers
should create partnerships between one another and then apply to government for finance and
subsidies.
Fisherman at Gaborone Dam: Isaac Sebekedi
Mr Sebekedi stated that there was a shortage of land in Gaborone and that it was hard to come by.
He asked whether government could assist fishermen with equipment and land to start cage farming
in the dam.
At this point Mr Nengu reminded the room that the purpose of the session was to provide inputs
toward the development of policy, not a question and answer session.
Former Director of Fisheries: Trevor Mmopelwa
Mr Mmopelwa answered that cage farming was not easy, it required capital input and high
operational costs. Feed was expensive and needed to be continuously supplied because caged fish
could not forage. He added that water in the dams was used for municipal supply and that farming in
the dam would increase the cost of processing the water for municipal supply.
He further commented that the strategy for aquaculture development needed to alter according to
the scale at which it is undertaken, viz:
For small scale farming it would be preferable to promote very low intensity projects. These projects
should be in backyard ponds which could be stocked with sex reversed fish from Mmadinare
hatchery to support subsistence of families. The issue of temperature in small dams could be
circumvented by using what the government had achieved at the Mmadinare hatchery. The facility
should be able to grow sex reversed fish to 20-30g by April-July. By stocking these fish in July, they
could be overwintered and when temperatures rose, farmers could get 8 months of growth until
harvest in March-February.
The stocking of stock watering dams with mixed sex fish from Mmadinare, which could use the
existing habitat and enable sport fishing.
72
SOGES

Commercial scale projects should be developed (such as the Pandamatenga example)

TAHAL: Julian Van Der Nat
Mr Van Der Nat noted that the one thing that needed to be well understood was the market. If there
was no market, an industry could not be started. People could be good farmers but if they couldnt
market their product they just couldnt turn that into success.
Mr Van Der Nat then related his experience how the Fresh Goods Market helped tomato farmers to
establish themselves in the Gaborone area. The history was that farmers would sometimes spend
the whole day with a full bakkie load of tomatoes, driving around the city from supermarket to
supermarket in an effort to sell their produce. By the end of the day the produce would be spoiled
and they would have to sell their load at a much reduced price if they could sell it at all. Since the
establishment of the fresh Goods market, farmers knew that they could drop their entire load in the
morning and pick up their check in the afternoon after doing their business in town. This came at a
cost (13%) of course but at least the farmer was guaranteed of selling and could turn their attention
to what they did best: farming. Aquaculture policy should thus be market oriented before it was
production oriented.
He then quoted the example in the USA where a successful marketing policy by government led to
the popularisation of tilapia. Tilapia went from an unknown product to the 5th most consumed fish in
the USA, thus spawning a very successful industry.
He further commented that aquaculture had a distinct advantage over wild caught fish in the
marketplace for several reasons:
- Regularity of supply and price
- Sustainability
- Traceability
He told the gathering that in Europe, standards were set by supermarkets not governments and that
quality and regular supply were what the lodge owners and supermarkets wanted.
He added that fish were not eaten here because people dont know how to prepare it. And that
assumptions about fish consumption could not be made because there was no regular supply.
He also supported cluster development and endorsed the establishment of outsourced satellite
farmers. This could be done in conjunction with the development of processing facilities. He used
the example of the three streams trout smoking facility which had very successfully created a market
which had in turn supported many small growers. A similar initiative was required for catfish in
Botswana. He suggested that there are markets everywhere but that government needed to sponsor
their development.
73
SOGES

DABP Agriculture: Malaki Bowane

Mr Bowane supported the establishment of multiplication units in various areas of the country. He
pointed out that there needed to be better transfer of technology.
Entrepreneur: Leatile Motshwane
Mr Leatile made the suggestion that the sector should be grown in a multidimensional way and
should include such things as catfish; soil farming; water farming, aquaponics and crocodiles.
Masunyama Investment: Dr Innocent Botshelo
Dr Botshelo made the following comments:
- Water management was important for aquaculture.
- Fish feed should not be as expensive as it was because of the availability of agricultural
byproducts.
- Knowledge and skills training is needed and an information base was required.
- Technical and scientific extension was needed.
- The sector should be built on people with a diversity of skills: marketing, processing and growing
for example
- Possible by-products from fish should be considered
- Fisheries policy did not mention anything about GM feeds or species
Prof Britz responded to the question of GM feeds by stating that GM was being supplied to the
market on a massive scale, that GM products were a reality and were probably here to stay. He
related that in his experience, it was almost impossible to find out whether feed ingredients were GM
or not. In industry terms Southern Africa were very small players and did not have the clout to
demand transparency from suppliers.
He continued that it was much more important to focus on the genetics of the fish because that we
could control. He warned that extreme care should be taken to prevent the uncontrolled introduction
of niloticus despite its being a very good aquaculture species. He related that niloticus has
destroyed the natural ecology of rivers and dams throughout Zimbabwe as a result of anglers
transferring it. He urged that the Okavango in particular must be protected.
He did however agree that fish that grew quickly and that were genetically selected for growth were
much needed. Local species such as the 3 spot bream (Oreochromis andersonii) as an aquaculture
species had potential for improvement. With genetic selection programs it was possible to make
20% gains in growth per generation but species development required research and suggested that
74
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that must come from government. He told stakeholders about the possible niloticus-andersoniimossambicus hybrid in Mmadinare dam. The hybrid was probably selected for survival but the
hatchery facility could be used to improve the hybrid for growth.
Discussion of Organisational Requirements For Sector Development

Entrepreneur Leatile Motshwane
Mr Motshwane asked whether the DWNP were looking at aquaculture as farming fish only or as a
whole industry.
Madinonyane Fish & bird Farm: Richard Moloefe
Mr Moloefe asked what the department was doing to support associations.
Marketing and Acquisitions DEPT Agriculture: D Matoto
Mr Matoto asked how M&A could get to know about fish so they could develop a market. He further
related that the Ministry of Agriculture was introducing backyard gardening to try to eradicate
poverty. Within this initiative, people were encouraged to establish fish ponds in their backyards. He
believed that this would introduce people to fish eating. The water from the backyard ponds could be
used for fish first and then gardening.
BOPA (Botswana Press Agency): Omphile Ntakhwana
Mr Ntakhwana suggested that linking government departments was important. He also pointed out
that whereas loans were available, land was a problem. He was very unhappy that the Land Board
was not present.
Unidentified contributor
Ms X expressed her support for the commercial approach. She added that people would need to
start with subsistence aquaculture until commercial structures came about. Only if land were
identified close to water bodies where clusters could be established could there be some possibility
for development beyond subsistence.
Water Utilities: Mr Jonathan Baumake
Mr Baumake suggested that BEDIA [The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority]
might be the organisation to promote a one stop shop as they were already doing this for other
businesses. He suggested that DWNP approach BEDIA about this.
Former director of DWNP: Trevor Mmopelwa
Mr Mopelwa questioned the assertion that Batswana were not a nation of fish eaters considering
that Botswana imported 4-5 million Pula worth of fish per year. He suggested that if a product were
75
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available, the community would consume it as happened with pane worm in the NE of the country.
He endorsed backyard ponds and associations. He referred to the example of game farming; that it
was very loose when it started but that farmers grouped together and thereby made progress;
managing to achieve such advances as export waivers for their product. He further expressed
support for an aquaculture association and gatherings such as the present workshop so that
information could be exchanged.
TAHAL: Julian Van Der Nat
Mr Van der Nat commented that 2000 tons of fish per annum was not a small amount of fish. He
further said that Botswana was lagging behind the rest of the world when it came to understanding
the health benefits of fish but that this was changing. He supported the idea that availability would
stimulate demand, especially if there was some value adding to the product. Mr Van Der Nat had
witnessed tests done in Soweto [South Africa] where fish was also not traditionally eaten. When fish
was offered by lunchtime street hawkers on a regular basis, local people started buying it. He also
suggested looking at the Botswana Horticultural Council as an example of a farmers market that
could be used to promote aquaculture products.
Entrepreneur: Khruschen Sebolao
Mr Sebolao suggested that fish feed needed to be produced locally or it would be too expensive for
small producers to purchase.
Mr Moloefe told the forum that he was working with National Food Technology Research Centre
(NFTRC or NAFTEC) in Khanye to develop pet food production in Botswana and that by the end of
2011 they would have the necessary capacity to go into production. Mr Moloefe said that they had
considered producing fish feed but decided to go for pet food instead because of the profit margin.
He would however consider fish feed if there was a demand, although he would need more technical
information as they had no idea how to go about its production.
DABP Agriculture; Malaki Bowane
Mr Bowane related that the department had registered two fishing associations and would like to
expand this into establishing fish farming associations, but that they did not know enough about fish
farming to do it. Mr Bowane committed his department to going the extra mile to provide capital or
equipment in conjunction with banks or funding agencies for aquaculture associations.
Director fisheries DWNP: Mr Shaft Nengu
Mr Nengu stated that there was no point in discussing feed production or farmers associations
without first having farmers. Farming needed to be established first. But even though the mandate of
the department was to establish fish farming, entrepreneurs chose what they wanted to farm.
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SOGES

SOGES: Peter Britz

Prof Britz conceded that feed was indeed one of the many challenges facing aquaculture. Although
there was an availability of byproducts in the country, a certain amount of fishmeal was always
required in fish feed because of the essential amino acids that it contained. This made fish feed
expensive. He therefore recommended that fish farmers in Botswana choose herbivorous species
that required less than 5% fishmeal in their diet. He also suggested that whereas there was feed
manufacturing capacity in the country, producing the necessary volumes could pose problems: the
minimum quantity of feed required to make an investment in infrastructure was a minimum of 10
tons a year. It would thus be best, he continued, that feed factories continue producing a variety of
feed until such time as there were a large enough market.
SOGES: Peter Britz
Prof Britz made the following summary points:
Government was well equipped to develop aquaculture
- There was a need for cooperative governance
- There was a need to link government and private sector
- BIDEA could be the contact point and provide information
- There was general agreement regarding the need for associations and that these
associations
could define the needs of their beneficiaries through successful lobbying.
- Consumption habits could change; there was scope for growth and there was no reason
why
fish eating could not increase, particularly amongst urban black communities.
- Aquaculture could produce a better quality product than fisheries.
He then handed back to the chair.

Mr Moleofe related that the mornings discussion played out over lunch: he (like many others) was
looking for fish on the buffet table, but it didnt look good it was covered in too much batter and
looked like vetkoek. He concluded that in Botswana, there was still much to learn in the
preparation of fish. This was loudly echoed by the delegates and there were comments from the
floor that people used a lot of batter with fish in order to make more profit.
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Mmasenyetse Community Dam Committee Member: Lanki Kefetole

Ms Kefetole relayed her communitys experience at the dam where there were large fish kills. She
wanted to know whether it was a disease that caused it and wanted to know more about fish
diseases in general.
SOGES: Peter Britz
Prof Britz determined that the fish died over winter and suggested that the death was therefore
probably not due to disease, but was rather a natural phenomenon as fish died in low temperatures
because they got stressed and starved. He reassured Ms Kefetole that the fish population would
bouce back in the summer. He suggested harvesting most of the fish at the end of summer to make
best use of the resource before winter mortalities took their toll and to reduce competition during the
colder months allowing the fish to recover quickly the next year.
Masunyama Investment: Mr Innocent Botshelo
Mr Botshelo Fish farmers in the country need a contact number for a vet that specialises in fish
diseases.
Prof. Britz advised that disease was prevented by good management. He also shared that World
Organisation For Animal Health (OIE) were paying for vets to be internationally trained so capacity
in the region would improve.
Entrepreneur: Mr Leatile Motshwane
Mr Motshwane suggested that it was advisable to know about the fish that are farmed before
farming them.
Mr Mopelwa advised that in order to prevent disease you need to limit stress and that there were no
qualified fish vets in the country.
WUC: Mr Jonathan Baumake
Mr Baumake asked whether mercury could accumulate in small freshwater fish to the same extent
that it could in large marine predators.
Prof Britz answered that it could and suggested that government conduct a baseline study for heavy
metals in fish in urban areas before they were allowed to be farmed.
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SOGES

LEA: Mr Moilwa
Mr Moilwa pointed out that there was a lot of sewage water around the town and that people were
fishing from that water, especially where it entered the Motwane river. He asked whether the fish
were safe to eat and whether it would be viable to develop farms along the river to take advantage
of the nutrients.
Fisherman Gaborone Dam: Isaac Sebekedi
Mr Sebekedi asked whether it were healthy to eat fish caught from the sewage works.
Echo: Lenah Bogwasi
Mr Bogwasi echoed the question.
Mr Moleofe asked the WUC to explain their policies in this regard. He said that people in Ramotswa
were being allowed to use sewage contaminated well water, while dams were being fenced to
prevent cattle from contaminating them. Why would WUC go to the huge expense of fencing dams
against cattle when Batswana have been sharing water with cattle for generations he asked.
WUC: Mr Baumake
Mr Baumake explained that the only dam totally fenced was the Gaborone Dam. He explained that
fences were a preventative measure to reduce treating the water against algal contamination. The
cost of treatment was much higher than the cost of fencing. He added that there was a lot of
pressure on local water resources and water utilities were looking at all sources to satisfy demand,
including the Ramotswa wellfields. He added that there were human health issues regarding fish
grown in sewage water and that it was too much of a risk to eat them.
Mr Mopelwa related that in the East, people used night soil to fertilise fish ponds and that raw
sewage was used for feeding fish directly.
Mr Nengu wished to address the issue of research and that his department had very limited
manpower to conduct what was needed. He asked for help from academic institutions like UBOTS.
He suggested that issues like species selection be left to the academics.
Prof Britz stated that research was one of the things needed to promote aquaculture in Botswana
and that a good development pathway would facilitate government funding. He suggested that
inputs be matched with outcomes.
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SOGES

Mmasenyetse: Lankie Kefetole

Ms. Kefetole expressed her wish to link up with others in the business so she could start farming.
Fisherman on Gaborone Dam: Mr Keodirets Bamotoga
Mr Bamatoga told the workshop that medium sized bream sold at P10. He said that the main
problem was access to water at the dam and asked whether there was a possibility that cage
farming be allowed in the dam.
Mr Nengu said that Water Utilities was currently assessing water the usage of all the dams in
Botswana and suggested that the question of using Gaborone Dam for fish farming be addressed by
the consultants working on the project.
Mr Mmapulwa suggested that focus should not be limited to the cities where issues of water were
complicated. The priority of Water Utilities was to provide clean water for municipal use and
alternatives would be preferable. He went on to say that there was plenty of water sitting for many
months of the year in stock watering reservoirs and should be used for farming fish. He also warned
that the pumping of underground water for fish farming was expensive.
Mr Nengu said that it was a myth that fish could not be farmed in a desert. He related his experience
of Israel where he saw very successful aquaculture being done in similar conditions to those found
in Botswana. It was merely a question of having the right technology and of piping water from where
it was available to where it was needed.
Mr Moleofe suggested that aquaculture in Botswana needed a country to benchmark against in the
same way that the beef industry in the country benchmarked with Argentinas.
Mr Mmopelwa suggested that all existing water infrastructure needed to be investigated and used if
appropriate, even such things as the 6-7m3 watering holes at cattle posts.
SOGES: Prof Peter Britz
Prof Britz summarised the days discussion as follows:
80
SOGES

He sincerely thanked everyone for their attendance and input. He felt it was truly representative and
reflected well on the countrys will to develop the new enterprise. He encouragingly added that if
everyone carries on like this that they were bound to succeed
He pointed to opportunities for the utilising of waste heat from industry. That it was possible when
designing water cooling systems to incorporate aquaculture facilities.
That the water shortage in the country actually represented an opportunity because water was being
stored and moved around and this created opportunities for aquaculture.
That research was required, particularly into market opportunities.
That the meeting showed the strength of the institutions in Botswana and that these institutions
created growth opportunities.
And that public-private cooperation was essential.
He finally reassured the stakeholders that the experts representing SOGES and the ACP Fish II
program would take the inputs offered in this workshop and formulate it into a workable plan.
He then handed the conclusion of the workshop over to Mr Nengu, who in turn requested Mr
Mmopelwa to make the concluding remarks.
Mr Mmopelwa started his conclusion of the workshop by relating his experience of being involved in
aquaculture in Botswana over many years: governments involvement in aquaculture started in
1984. Since then there had been significant interest but none of that interest had resulted in
production. The challenge to the ACP Fish II project was to address this. He said that if just one
entrepreneur could start production, it would act as an example that others could follow.
He continued by reminding us that fish and fishing was done by the poorest people in the world so
what we were talking about could make a real impact on peoples lives people who really needed
it.
The technology for diversification was abundant but the question was how to convert this into reality.
He related that he is a firm believer that there was room and potential for fish and that we could turn
things around. Batswana were not a fish eating nation because they did not have the water natural
water bodies. However fish eating was common in those areas where these water bodies existed
around the Okavango and the Chobe. He added that fish eating was developing around the world.
He reinforced that effort must be made where it was applicable, that all institutions should cooperate
and that partnerships were vital. That the link to agriculture must not be lost and that efforts must be
integrated with tourism.
Finally he thanked the consultants, wished them good travel further and expressed the hope that
they produce a good document that could take aquaculture to its full potential in Botswana.
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Appendix 2.
Consultative workshop: Francistown 29th March 2011:
Programme; Attendance Register; Discussion
Department of Wildlife and National Parks - ACP FISH II Programme

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY for BOTSWANA (ADSB)
CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP
PROGRAMME
Cresta Thapama Hotel , Francistown, 29 March 2011
08h30 Registration
09h00 Opening prayer
09h05 Introduction of Delegates/ Participants
09h15 Welcome Remarks MEWT/DWNP representative
09h20 EU ACP 2 programme and workshop objectives Mr Shaft Nengu DWNP
09h30 Botswana Aquaculture Potential and Constraints Prof. Peter Britz SOGES
10h15 Issues of clarity, general comments
10h30 Tea
11h00 Institutional/ Organisational Requirements for Sector Development presentation by Peter
Britz
11h30 General Discussion
13h00 Lunch
14h00 Further discussion
15h00 Summary and way forward
15h15 Closing remarks, vote of thanks
82
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Attendance register Francistown Stakeholder workshop

Name
Surname
Organisation
Email
tel 1
Humphrey
Barnard
Barnards
Porkers
bobbsies@yahoo.com
75019508
Alex
Boxhall Smith
Agriculture
rakmining@but.co.bw
71626233
Choto
Choto
DWNP
choto-c@hotmail.com
72617289
Mogomotsi
Diane
DWNP
mdiane@gov.bw
73912354
Kamogelo
Galethaole
Self
p.galathaole@gmail.com
71448810
Ruth
Jarabane
DWNP
71497839
Mavele
Jenamo
Dam Secretary
72155180
Jackalas
John
Jackalas
Headman
74253336
Balebeledi
Kangangwane
Self
Boniface
Kgwarae
SEIF
Kesego
Kutoro
DWNP
kekutoro@gov.be
71353260
Victoria
Kwena
Agriculture
vkwena@gov.be
72412358
Nshomani
Malapeng
Fishnet
Botswana
nmalapeng@yahoo.co.uk
74137276
Smason
Manyathelo
Self
manyathelo@gmail.com
71851939
Thusane
Margret
Dam Treasurer
74361404
Bernard
Mbetha
Dept Vetinary
Services
bernardmbetha@yahoo.com
74630095
Letsogile
Moalosi
Jackalas
VDC
71653423
Montshwari
Molefe
DWNP
Editorm.
Mothowabarwa Self
Amos
Mubaiwa
b.kangangwane@y.com
72828456
72562468
No2
nmolefe@gov.bw
73971405
72405169
Self
amosmubaiwa@gmail.com
71722032
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SOGES

Rosemary
Mukwewa
Agriculture
72611845
Tshepomackean Namane
Self
71131140
Annah
Nciaba
DWNP
ajmabe@gmail.com
72407742
Isaac
Ncube
Self
incube10@gmail.com
74372562
Shaft
Nengu
DWNP
Kabelo
Nkwane
LEA
knwane@lea.co.bw
72413847
Joyce
Ntolale
Madinare
Wildlife
j.rautleru@yahoo.com
71544421
Stampana
Osenotse
Self
stampana@hotmail.com
71622226
David
Ramatlhare
Dept Town &

Regional
Planning
molebogi@yahoo.co.uk???
71965352
Keoagile
Ramatlotlo
Self
keoagiler@yahoo.com
74011110
Gakepina
Rammusi
DWNP
grammusi@yahoo.com
72887388
Masego
Rantsudu
Self
Nchiseabe
Raphane
Raptech
investments
raptech535410@yahoo.com
72535410
Santos Santu
Sejankabo
DWNP
ssgamkato@gmail.com???
71776830
Stephen
Sekhutu
Dept Wildlife
ssekhute@gov.bw
72414991
Morekolodi
Senabye
Self
senabye2003@yahoo.co.uk
72441384
Fordson Zibane
Sigwele
Tsamaya VDC
Palalani
Tamajasi
CTO
73469343
71380374
ptamajazi@gov.bw
71493270
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ACP Fish II Aquaculture Development Strategy For Botswana
Consultative workshop Francistown 29th March 2011
Discussion of Botswana Aquaculture Potential and Constraints
DWNP Stephen Sekhutu

Mr Sekhite welcomed us all to the discussion and reminded delegates of the potential that
aquaculture holds for poverty alleviation in Botswana. Despite shortages of water, fish could be
farmed in small ponds and tanks. He expressed his hope that the workshop would enable delegates
to share their experiences so that farming could be promoted. He further called on all to use our
resourcefulness to achieve results. He wished us a pleasant and fruitful discussion.
CTO: Palalani Tamajasi
Mr Tamajasi shared that he wanted to go into small scale fish farming. He asked how much land
was needed and how that could be calculated using stocking density.
Prof Britz replied that 1ton of fish could be produced from a 1ha pond per year. In tanks, annual fish
production in 1m3 could be 20-30kg.
Fishnet Botswana: Nshomali Malapeng
Mr. Malapeng asked how big a medium sized farm was. He also asked about tank farming, ponds
and ways to increase the capacity of a pond and increase stoking density. He asked this because
there were constraints on land.
Prof Britz replied that for a standalone medium sized enterprise to be successful, it must be able to
market 200-300 tons.
Small scale enterprise at the local village level must keep costs down in order to be economical,
pond capacity can be enhanced by adding manure as fertilizer.
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Oxygen is the major factor limiting stocking density. Paddlewheels used to oxygenate water can
increase stocking densities 3 fold. There was of course extra cost involved and an electrical supply
was required. These extra costs would need to be covered in the business plan. Catfish can breathe
air and can be stocked at 500kg in 1m3 tanks. The problem with catfish is market.
Osenotse Stampana
Ms Stampana suggested the establishment of syndicates or clubs to boost aquaculture like those
that have worked for cattle farmers. She also asked whether the College of Agriculture trained
people in aquaculture?
Prof Britz agreed that syndicates are a very good idea. If government could facilitate land, feed and
seed in one place, it would give a boost to small farmers. He gave the example of satellite farmers
producing trout and mussels in South Africa where commercial farmers could produce enough
product. the original commercial farmer has evolved into the processor and helps the satellite farmer
to produce. Satellite farmers now own their own mussel rafts. Small farmers dont have the
resources to put together all these things by themselves. He also mentioned that unless there was
existing water aquaculture was a non starter so clustering in suitable areas was the answer.
He further said that the College of Agriculture offered a 4 months course in aquaculture but that the
staff there did not have enough experience and needed an internship at a commercial farm.
Jackalas No2 VDC: Maolosi Letsogile
Mr Letsogile asked how long a fish lasted once it has been frozen.
Prof Britz answered that fish can be frozen for about 3 months; thereafter product quality goes
down. He went on to say that fresh fish is better quality than frozen and that restaurants preferred to
cook fresh product. Locally produced fresh fish would outcompete an imported frozen product, even
in SA where the market usually prefers marine fish. He added that this needed to be considered
when planning aquaculture strategies
Mr Nengu agreed that freezing is an important element to fish farming and that water quality in
ponds was vital.
DWNP: Stephen Sekhutu
Mr Sekhutu asked about the cost of paddlewheels. Prof Britz replied: about P1000 each.
Entrepreneur: Masego Rantsudu
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Mr Rantsudu mentioned that funding agencies such as CEDA should always be present at forums
such as this.
Montshwari Molefe, DWNP
Mr Molefe confirmed that they had been invited to the workshop and Prof Britz confirmed that they
had been invited to the workshop in Gaborone.
Entrepreneur: Ramatlotlo Keoagile
Mr Ramatlotlo asked what could be done as far as feeds were concerned to minimise costs. What
the failures were with aquaculture in Botswana and whether it were viable to farm fish in the country
if people didnt eat them. He also asked about disposal of waste products and commented that
education was key to aquaculture development.
Prof Britz replied that fish feeds were expensive because they required fishmeal and the
international demand for fishmeal was high. Feeds sold for P8-9/kg which was at least half of
running cost. This cost could be reduced by reducing fishmeal in the diet. Vegetarian fish were
therefore better to farm as they could grow on diets containing less than 5% fishmeal. High protein
crops like soya needed to be grown and industry would need to set aside land for this. He added
that feed was a volume business and that a production unit of at least 10 tons was needed to be
economically viable. Aquaculture in Botswana would depend on imported feed in the beginning and
the cost of this would need to be allowed for in the business plan.
Prof Britz said that there were a lot of reasons causing failure in aquaculture. This was primarily
because the first commercial farm would need to do it all. In order to start a successful operation,
industry would need to work with government.
He answered the question regarding market by saying that the problem with the local market for fish
was one of availability; that with a regular supply, the market could be grown.
Aquaculture wastes could be buried, fed to pigs or reprocessed into feed for chickens or could be
fed back to the fish.
Regarding education, Prof Britz recommended that fish should be sent to working commercial farms
by government because real learning happened in reality.
Entrepreneur: Samson Manyathelo
Mr Manyathelo asked where he could get duckweed. He also asked about RAS (Recirculating
Aquaculture Systems) because there was no water where he lived in Palapye.
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SOGES

Pete Britz replied that duckweed could become a problem but that it was a high protein feed that fish
could eat directly without requiring processing.
Oxygen levels required for RAS systems was 5mg/l but that bream were tough. Although RAS
systems were a good idea in dry areas, but that a 10% exchange was still needed per day. RAS
could also be used to control temperature, especially in covered ponds. He warned that
implementing RAS implied extra cost and required management skills. He advised that one needed
to ask the question whether the price would accommodate the investment.
Entrepreneur: Rosemary Mukwewa
Ms Mukwewa asked whether there were laws regarding disposal of fish waste?
Mr Nengu commented that in the Okavango, the FD taught people to bury fish byproducts in
Okavango. He further commented that commercial scale waste could be fed to pigs but that it was
not allowed to feed chicken waste to chickens and that it was therefore unlikely that fish would be
allowed to be fed back to fish.
Dept. Veterinary Services: Bernard Mbetha
Mr Mbetha addressed the issue of disease: that not all diseases of fish will affect pigs. He said that
disease was an important component of aquaculture and that it should be considered in any
business plan, mainly to certify that the product was healthy. The OIE code existed for this purpose
and that every farm needed a disease control and surveillance program.
Prof Britz agreed that health management and disease control was vital, especially with high density
farming. Veterinary services were required when operations became commercial. He warned that
Government would not support individual farmers because it was a large commitment. Veterinary
services did not mean just curing sick animals but was a commitment to ensuring fish health from
farm to fork. He told the delegates about OIE in Gaborone and that Rhodes University was
collaborating with OIE to train vets from the region. He explained that OIE was an organisation
based in France where all listed diseases were registered in a central database. OIE was
empowering African countries to export products to Europe
Entrepreneur: Rosemary Mukwewa
Ms Mukwewa asked who paid for this?
Prof Britz replied that this was a policy decision and varied between countries. In some countries,
government would contract a private vet and his services would be shared between industry and
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SOGES

government. The OIE database was paid for internationally but certification would need to happen
locally.
Entrepreneur: Alex Boxhall-Smith
Mr Boxhall-Smith expressed his appreciation for the forum and the opportunity to be heard. He then
shared his experience of trying to start a pilot aquaculture project in Selebi Phikwe. Despite working
with SPIDU (Selebi He had been working for the last 18 months with no result and no light at end of
tunnel. He was finding the process extremely frustrating and an enormous waste of time. His
primary frustration was with the amount of red tape that was needed and that it was a nightmare to
get through.
He had already completed a business plan already, his funding was approved by BDC but the
project was hitting a brick wall. The project needed water and land and both belonged to WUC who
would not allow access to the dams. He claimed that the relevant government departments were not
communicating with one another.
Mr Nengu replied that what Mr Boxhall-Smith was saying was true; that government policies were
insufficient and that the departments were operating as independent entities and that too much red
tape was hindering the vision of aquaculture. It took DWNP 10 years to get access to the dam for
the hatchery and he was in Government! DWNP had to fight with WUC for the pipeline as well. He
hoped that the strategy would highlight this and hopefully inform government.
LEA: Kabelo Nkwane
Mr Nkwane commented that this was not the correct forum for these issues and that a separate
forum was needed to deal with institutional bottlenecks. He also said that the dissemination of
information was very slow in Botswana. He said government needs to work hand in hand with an
investor and be instrumental in establishing a [commercial] farm.
Prof Britz responded that this was a common problem in Africa and that an appropriate forum was
required that was driven by policy. In South Africa, aquaculture development zones have been
established after many years of problems. He agreed that DWNP does not have political clout when
working isolation.
DWNP: Choto Choto
Choto asked how cage farming operated.
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Prof Britz explained cage farming and said that there was a lot of it in China where it was being done
very cheaply. The problem with cage farming in Botswana was temperature and the fact that
pelleted feeds were required.
He described farming in 1m deep fertilised dams which in Botswana would have low production in
winter. Tunnels could be used to warm the water.
DWNP: Choto Choto
Mr Choto asked about breeding fish in cages.
Prof Britz replied that fish are bred in a hatchery and stocked into the cages.
CTO: Palalani Tamajasi
Mr Tamajasi commented that the presentation was being pitched too high. He wanted technical
information on smaller systems.
Professor Britz replied that we were not yet ready for small farmers until the value chain was
established and small farmers would be set up to fail if advised to go farming now. If farmers had
existing water there was some possibility to make money but even building ponds was going to
outweigh profit. He said that SME farmers were ahead of government. He said that a business plan
had to be designed for at least 200 tons or it wouldnt be viable and that government needed to back
one project that would work. Until then he advised farmers to bring their expectations down and
focus what can work because development finance would only put money into something viable.
Development finance and government will only put money into something viable. DWNP should
model an incubator model whereby it was calculated how much it would cost to host 10
entrepreneurs in areas with water. If this feasibility showed the correct numbers it might be a model
which government may be willing to adopt. In order for this to happen, an MOU with relevant
departments was needed to break down bottlenecks. Mr Shaft Nengu agreed with this.
Mr Nengu commented that a 2 fish/m2 model was misleading as that was for very small scale.
Commercial scale was more than 50 fish /m2 and that the water quality was more important than
stocking density. He was convinced that Botswana could consume 15 tons a month of farmed fish or
maybe even 25-40 tons. That the market was there but that the costs were enormous and needed
a funded pilot project.
Professor Britz agreed and said the fundamentals were there but asked how the small farmer could
be accommodated. He again quoted the satellite farmer model and cited examples where it was
working.
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Mr Nengu said that the most commonly asked question was: how much land do I need? he answer
was that it depended on the culture systems and that most applicants had misconception about their
expectations; that they expected it to be easy and expected to make money instantly.
Mr Nengu explained about Niloticus distribution and where it is possible to stock.
Professor Britz thanked everyone for their input and their time. Stated that we had a responsibility to
put a draft strategy together. That we would present and discuss with stakeholders. He reminded all
that this was a Botswana based project and hopefully that the strategy could be sold to politicians at
the validation workshop. He thanked the DWNP for facilitating the project and the meeting and that
we needed partnerships to succeed.
Dr Mbetha closed the Workshop.
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Appendix 3. Key informants that were consulted during the stakeholder

consultation process
Consult.
Date
Name
Designation
Location
25-Jan-11
Shaft Nnengu
Director Division Of Fisheries, Gaborone

Ministry Of Environment, Wildlife And
Tourism
25-Jan-11
Nelson
Nagasela
Deputy Director of Research and Gaborone

strategy, Ministry of Environment,
Wildlife and Tourism
26-Jan-11
Vincent Vire
Economic
delegation
26-Jan-11
H. Nnyambe
Program Officer, Natural Resource Gaborone

Management, SADC
26-Jan-11
Julian Van der Consultant, TAHAL Group Consulting Gaborone

Nat
Engineers,
27-Jan-11
Ulf Newmark
Managing director, Water Farming Gaborone

Botswana
28-Jan-11
Neil Fitt
Coordinator Agricultural Hub
31-Jan-11
Syria Molepo
Principle
Technical
Mmadinare Hatchery
Officer, Letsibogo Dam
01-Feb-11
Various
individuals
Dam
Committee
and
Development Committee
Village Jackalas II Village,

outside Francistown
02-Feb-11
Kaelo Nkile
Wildlife Biologist, Dept Wildlife and Maun

parks
02-Feb-11
M.B. Othomile
Regional Wildlife Officer - Ngamiland
02-Feb-11
Ketlhatlogile
Mosepele
Senior Research Scholar, Harry Maun

Oppenheimer Okavango Research
Centre, University of Botswana
03-Feb-11
O. Modiaemang
Technical Assistant, Ministry of Maun

Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
attache,
European Gaborone
Gaborone
Maun
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03-Feb-11
Babontsheng
Mokoba
Aspirant Fish Farmer
Maun
03-Feb-11
Tekano
Kasale
Titus Aspirant Fish Farmer
Maun
22-Mar-11
Edmond Moabe
Deputy
Permanent
(Natural Resources)
25-Mar-11
Neo Bagwase
Lecturer, Botswana College of Gaborone

Agriculture, Animal Science and
Production
29-Mar-11
Phin Mackenzie
Manager, Senn Foods
04-Apr-11
Gordon O Brian
Researcher,
Johannesburg
26-Apr-11
Trevor Moelwa
26-Apr-11
Goitseone
Patrick
Ramaloto
Former Head of Fisheries Division, Gaborone

DWNP
Selebi
Phikwe
Economic Gabarone
Diversification Unit
Secretary Gaborone
University
Francistown
of Johannesburg
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Appendix 4. Imports of fish products into Botswana. 2009-2010. Source:

Central Statistics Office.
DESCRIPTONS /PARTNER
United Kingdom
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in oil, in
airtight metal containers.
Other prepared or preserved fish--other
Ghana
other sardines,sardenella & brisling or
sprats n.e.s.
Indonesia
sprats n.e.s.
Prepared or preserved anchovies
(excl. minced)
Sri Lanka
other anchovies n.e.s.
Namibia
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in
oil, in airtight metal containers.
Tunas,skipjack
and
bonito(sarda
spp)frozen
prepared or preserved fish---other,
frozen
Nigeria
sardines,sardinella and brisling or
sprats other, frozen
Oman
prepared or preserved fish---other,
frozen
Peru
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in oil,
in airtight metal containers
Singapore
Prepared or preserved salmon (excl.
minced)
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in oil,
in airtight metal containers.
other sardines, sardenella & brisling
2009
PULA
KG
10
560,576
54,000
184,139
21,000
366,887
42,000
174,841
22,500
459
100
1,146,131
63,970
403,511
33,396
70
10
40
380,614
28,000
174,890
177,304
2010
PULA
KG
20,079
4,350
527,736
33,500
10
595,996
36,720
2,633,964
257,760
18,360
21,000
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or sprats n.e.s.
(excl. minced)
Thailand
Taiwan
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in
oil, in airtight metal containers.
South Africa
Extracts of fish
other extracts and juices of meat,fish
or crustaceans ,molluscs or aquatic
invertebrates
Prepared or preserved salmon (excl.
minced)
herrings frozen
other frozen herrings not elsewhere
specified
Sardines(sardine pilchardus), in oil, in
Sprats(spratus spratus) in oil, in
Sardinella (sardinella spp), in airtight
metal containers...
Sardines (pilchards) (sardinops spp),
in airtight metal containers
Sardines,sardinella and brisling or
sprats other,frozen
sprats n.e.s.
Tunas,skipjack
and
bonito(sarda
spp)frozen
other tunas,skipjack & bonito n.e.s.
Mackerel in airtight containers,not
frozen
other
mackerel
not
elsewhere
specified
(excl. minced)
prepared
or
preserved
fish--other,frozen
Horse-mackrel (trachurus trachurus)in
airtight metal containers not frozen
other anchovies n.e.s.
Fish paste
180,781
22,500
372,700
43,500
48
3,854
34
1,739
68
637,702
21,278
2,001,097
27,725
89,373
822
372,694
202
11,774
0
146,012
3,055
111,174
2,629
1,137,020
70,013
957,852
54,397
1,045
2,880
114
1,800,888
98,717
21,393,517 1,318,788 37,054,767 1,946,977

3,175
354
863
24
319,479
7,265
744,414
47,079
243,803
3,386,185
7,337
156,717
411,963
1,269,176
38,626
36,810
1,287
73
22,471
676
672,651
50,696
169,313
5,299
14,678
1,918
1,268,357
53,951
2,089,513
65,261
16,091
2,155,523
636,700
161
1,223
17,595
362,194
2,780,644
439,488
2,000
12,920
34,174
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Other sardines ,mackerel and horsemackerel, in airtight metal containers

Other prepared or preserved fish--other,frozen
TOTALS
9,321
929
194,733
7,834
2,041,625
69,487
671,983
20,752
3,504,653
187,339
3,737,694
166,585
43,245,102 2,382,086 57,473,837 2,931,723
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Appendix 5. Observed shortcomings of Mmadinare Hatchery

An interview with the chief technical officer at Mmadinare on 31 January 2011 revealed a list of
shortcomings that was affecting the hatcherys efficiency:
There was no accommodation at the facility for staff. Staff needed to commute from the
nearest town. There was a single vehicle available which was used for both aquaculture and
all other DWNP duties in the area. At the time of the visit, the vehicle was boarded
(functionally obsolete) and staff were borrowing a vehicle from another department. Staff
therefore often walked to work.
There was a shortage of basic hatchery equipment such as scoop nets or a dissolved
oxygen meter.
A proper transportation tank was required for fingerlings. High mortalities were encountered
when the current tank was used because of the long distances that needed to be covered.
Staff were inadequately trained. They had undergone some training at the facility from a
consultant but none had worked on a commercial fish farm or hatchery.
Maintenance was inadequate: there seemed to be insufficient budget for maintenance and
basic maintenance skills were unavailable. Maintenance has been attempted by the
Department of Building and Engineering Services but had apparently been ineffectual.
The fingerlings being produced were not being effectively sex reversed. Staff suspect that
the feed did not contain the required hormone. The feed that was originally used
(successfully) was bought from Aqua Nutro in South Africa. Subsequent payments to Aqua
Nutro could not be affected because the company would not accept an order number in
payment and government procedure dictated that purchases could only be made on order
numbers. This forced DWNP to go through a local agent who would not reveal his source
nor confirm the ingredients of the feed.
Staff were unclear as to what the objective and strategy for the hatchery were.
Observations of the expert regarding the facility and its operations:
The facility had been solidly built and was equipped with highly sophisticated systems.
However, it was precisely the sophistication of these systems that contributed to the
difficulties of keeping the infrastructure in good repair. Much of the technology employed was
overdesigned and overspecified.
Non-standard and oversized plumbing pipes and fittings had been used. It is generally good
practice to design aquaculture systems in remote areas using standard sized construction
grade plumbing which is readily available off the shelf (e.g. 50mm and 110mm piping where
possible). Repairs to the plumbing were thus not being done because the fittings required
were simply not available or prohibitively expensive. Many of the systems that had been
installed were thus bypassed and there was a significant amount of water running to waste.
As water for the hatchery was being purchased from the dam, leaks were contributing to
running costs.
The hatchery was fitted with super sophisticated equipment for filtration, heating, cooling and
reticulation. All this equipment and all the systems installed were being bypassed at the time
of the visit and the overwhelming majority of it was in poor repair due to lack of parts or
technical skills to repair it.
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The systems had been designed to work automatically via electronic solenoid valves. None
of these valves were working.
The plastic on the agricultural tunnels was broken. The plastic was not replaced because
staff on site did not have the technical skill or materials to repair it.
There was no workshop or tools on the site and none of the staff had been trained in basic
mechanical repair.
The tilapia species being produced were a stunted hybrid of Niloticus x Mossambicus X
Andersonii captured from the Lestibogo dam. The Nile tilapia had been stocked into the dam
from Zimbabwe by nave anglers (Ulf Nermark, Pers. Comm. April 2011). Although the strain
is probably well adapted to surviving in the dam, it offers poor growth characteristics. The
strain is also ecologically undesirable as it contains genetic material foreign to Botswanas
indigenous tilapia species (Tomschi et al 2009).
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Appendix 6. Botswana College Of Agriculture, Department Of Animal Science

And Production Aquaculture Course. Asb 429, Aquaculture- 2 Credits
Course Outline
The course is intended to enable students to be able to:
Plan and set up fishponds
Manage ponds and fish in ponds
Harvest fish
Preserve fish using different methods
Describe fish diseases and plan for their prevention
Outline
Week 1
Introduction to aquaculture
Week 2
Fish anatomy and physiology
Week 3
Fish production systems
Week 4
Principles of pond construction
Weeks 5 - 6
Fish species for farming (Tilapia, Catfish & Carp)
Week 7
Test I
Week 8
Semester break / Visit to Fish hatchery (Mmadinare)
Week 9
Water quality in aquaculture
Week 10
Pond maintenance
Weeks 11-12 Fish health

Week 13
Harvesting and preservation of fish
Practical
Week 1
Gross anatomy of fish and Handling of fish
Week 2
Water quality assessment

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Week 3
Cleaning BCA Aquaculture unit & counting fish
Weeks 4 - 5
Site planning and preparation
Week 6
Feeding fish, pond fertilization & weighing
Week 8
Semester break / Visit to Fish hatchery (Mmadinare)
Week 9
Visit- Fish Preservation and storage- Sea foods company, Gaborone
Week 10
Lab Test
Modes of assessment
One theory test 20%, two unannounced quizzes 20%
Lab test 20%, Term Paper 20%, Lab assignment & quiz 20%
Examination at the end of the semester
Prescribed text
M. Landau 1992. Introduction to Aquaculture. John Wiley and sons, N. Y. ISBN: 0-471-61146-8
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Appendix 7. Twenty Common Questions On Aquaculture. DWNP Fisheries

Division Booklet
1.
WHAT IS AQUACULTURE?
Aquaculture is the growing of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions.

organisms can either be plants or animals (that include fish).
These aquatic
Fish culture is the rational cultivation of fish in a confined water area where the practices of both
crop and animal husbandry are applicable. Fish culture is therefore a branch of aquaculture.
Aquaculture and fish culture are different from capture fisheries. Aquatic organisms that are
exploitable by the public are the harvests of hunting and gathering or fishing which is different from
fish farming.
2.
WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES FISH FARMING OFFER OVER OTHER AGRICULTURAL
PRACTICES?
Fish culture can be practiced in land not suitable for other forms of agriculture e.g. marshy or
swampy areas.
Fish convert feed consumed into their flesh better than any other land animal. For example the
Food Conversion Ratio (FCR) for fish can be as low as 1.0 (i.e. one gram weight gain per gram of
practical diet) while that of chicken, the most efficient warm blooded food animal would be twice as
much.
One hectare of land can easily produce from 0.5 to 7 tons of fish. Crop or livestock production rarely
reach these yield levels.
3.
WHAT DO I NEED TO GROW FISH?
Basically a suitable site that would offer the following features;

- land that has a gentle slope (to fill and drain pond by
gravity).
- adequate water of good quality.

- soils with adequate water holding capacity.
- near to the farm owner, close to social services (roads,
sources of inputs.
4.
electricity etc) and in proximity of
HOW MUCH LAND AND WATER DO I NEED TO START A FISH FARM?
LAND. Most people ask for a 40m x 40m piece of land from the land boards and think it will be
enough for a fish farm. This will only do for a family fishpond. For a semi intensive fish farm one
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needs at least 3 hectares of pond area. Thus a larger area is required to accommodate other
structures such as feed stores and market buildings.
WATER. It is generally believed that 20,000 m3 of water per hectare per year is required to meet all
evaporation and seepage losses, in order to raise a crop of fish.
5.
HOW DO I KNOW IF WATER IS GOOD FOR FISH
CULTURE?
The following parameters should be within the ranges indicated below:
6.
Salinity -
average 2000 mg/1
pH -
6.5 to 9
Alkalinity-
above 20 mg/1
Dissolved Oxygen (varies with temperature) -
at least 5 mg/1
Plankton turbidity (secchi disk reading)- 3
0 to 45 cm
HOW DO I CONSTRUCT A FISH POND?
A pond is not just a hole dug in the ground. It is a carefully constructed structure for raising fish.
The first crucial step in pond construction is selection of a suitable site, as outlined in 3 above. A
pond should have the following features;
Dykes (banks or walls) built above ground for retaining water. Pond banks should be designed to
have:
- A slope, gentler inside and steeper outside.
- An inlet to let the water into the pond.
- An outlet to let the water flow out of the pond.
- An overflow to let some of the water flow away in order to avoid it flowing over the banks.
The general procedure of constructing an earthen pond involves;
- clearing all vegetation and rocks from the area.
- removing the upper 20cm humus reach top soil and saving it somewhere.
- marking the outer and inner limits of the pond dykes.
- digging from the inner limits and using the soil to build the banks layer by layer and compacting
tightly.
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- shaping the slopes and adding the saved topsoil on the outer slopes to guard against erosion.
The average depth of a pond is 1 to 1.5 m on the deeper end (drain end) and 0.7 to 0.8 m at the
shallow end (inlet side).
Pond sizes vary with the purpose for their use. Family ponds are usually 200 m2 in area. For semicommercial ventures ponds need not be larger than 500 to 1000 m2. It is advisable to construct a
number of smaller ponds than a few large ones.
7.
WHY SHOULD I FERTILIZE A FISH POND?
Soil fertilization is a practice intended to improve nutrient availability to plants in agricultural crop
production. Similarly, pond fertilization is intended to stimulate plankton (microscopic plants and
animals) growth, which is primary production supporting fish life. The importance of pond
fertilization depends on the feeding regime. It may not be necessary to fertilize ponds when
complete fish feed is provided, but natural food production usually supplements artificial feed
provided by the farmer.
Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be applied to a fish pond. Earthen ponds are best
fertilized after draining or before pond filling. However, fertilization is often applied to filled ponds,
including concrete ones which have the advantage of not having some nutrients (phosphates)
locked up in pond mud. A compost crib is usually built at one shallow corner of a pond to
continuously release nutrients to the water. Fertilized water should be retained long enough in a
pond to reap the benefits of fertilization. A good measure of how much fertilizer to apply is the
secchi disc reading.
8.
WHAT FISH ARE SUITABLE FOR FARMING IN BOTSWANA
A good aquaculture species has the following characteristics:

- grows within the temperature range of the chosen location/site
- feeds low on the food chain. Primary production is the cheapest manufacture of wild feed
- tolerates water of poor quality, particularly low dissolved oxygen
- ability to reproduce in captivity
- resistance to handling stress
- fast growth rate
- accepted widely by consumers as food
Examples of fish fitting the above are: Bream (tilapias), Barbel (Catfishes) and Common Carp.
9.
HOW MANY FISH SHOULD I STOCK IN A POND?

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As in livestock farming, stocking density is a function of management. Stocking densities of up to

100 fish per m2 are possible in raceway systems. In semi intensive pond systems 2 fish per m2 is
the usual recommended density.
10.
HOW DO I TELL MALES FROM FEMALES?
No easy answer for this one. It varies with the fish species as differentiating males from females is
easier with certain species than others. As expected the older the fish the easier it is to tell its sex.
Ability to tell males from females is important when it comes to breeding, but in the tilapias it is also
important not to stock the two sexes together because the fish tends to reach sexual maturity much
earlier than they reach market size.
The practice therefore is to stock only one sex, preferably males since they have been proven to
grow faster.
Within the tilapias males can be distinguished from females because males have a single urogenital
pore. Females have a reddish slit (oviduct) just behind the anus but in front of the urinary orifice.
In the catfishes males have a distinct sexual papilla, which is absent in females.
11.
WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT GETTING BABY FISH AFTER STOCKING?
Some people get excited by the thought of being able to have baby fish in a pond. Having baby fish
can be a problem if facilities are not adequate. The time to expect fish fry depends on the fish
cultured. Catfish and common carp can grow up to one year without reaching sexual maturity.
Even if sexual maturity is reached certain specific environmental conditions have to be met before
fish can start breeding.
The story is quite different with mouth brooding tilapia (bream). This fish can breed at the age of
four months (although there are slight differences between species). Once sexual maturity is
reached and both the temperature and food are not limiting one can be sure that breeding will
certainly take place. The fish can spawn (lay eggs) anywhere, even in a glass aquarium.
12.
HOW DO I CONTROL FISH BREEDING AND WHY?
A fish like tilapia that breeds early in its life history and can have up to six spawning cycles in a year
poses a challenge to recommended stocking densities. Subsequent to breeding the stocking
density is unknown (and surely exceeded). Due to overcrowding the fish get stunted as they
compete for space, food and oxygen. Water quality deteriorates quite rapidly because of increased
excretory products and the build up of toxic metabolites. Consequently, few fish reach market size,
and may do so after an extended growth period. All these factors are the basis for the need to
control unwanted breeding in ponds. The following techniques are commonly applied:
Introduction of predator (one predator to 5-10 tilapia)
Monosex male culture;- Hand selection, Sex reversal
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Cage culture
13.
WHAT DO FISH EAT?
A potential fish farmer came to our headquarters office and wanted to make a lot of money by
growing fish because each female can produce over a thousand young ones and they will all grow
from feeling on mud. Ga kere tlhapi e ja seretse?
We should not forget that a fish is an animal. Therefore the nutrients required by fish for growth,
reproduction and other normal physiological functions are similar to those of land animals. They
need proteins, vitamins, and energy sources (carbohydrates and fats). This is why in addition to
pond fertilization some form of supplemental feeding is recommended. In intensive fish culture
systems a complete (balanced) formulated fish feed must be made available. Feeding rates and
frequencies vary with fish species. In the tilapias feeding rates vary from 4 to 30% feed as a fraction
of total fish biomass (weight) for fish less than 100g. For fish larger than 100g the feeding rate is
usually constant at 3% of total fish biomass.
14.
HOW DO I MONITOR CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY?
Some water quality parameters are fairly constant and need to be checked less frequently such as
only once a month. These include;
- Salinity
- pH (if alkalinity is moderate at a minimum of 20 mg/1)
- alkalinity
- plankton density (Turbidity)
However, the following need close monitoring and should be checked daily:
- temperature
- dissolved oxygen (DO)
- toxic metabolites
- total ammonia (ammonia plus ammonium)

- nitrites
- methane
Of all the above dissolved oxygen is the most critical and any measure of water quality monitoring
should start with DO. In fact DO should be checked at least three times daily, once early morning
(before sunrise) and twice in the evenings (around 22:00 hours and 23:00 hours). Water quality field
105
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test kits are available in the market today (have to be imported). They usually carry brochures
detailing step by step procedures of how each parameter is tested.
15.
WHY SHOULD I WEED A FISH POND?
In a few school ponds managed by CJSSs students have imported wild aquatic weeds and
introduced them into their ponds. It does simulate the natural environment yes, but is it necessary?
Competition between plankton and rooted weeds in a pond is that of first come first served. If
plankton density in a pond is low (secchi reading of over 45 cm) then sunlight penetrates through to
the pond bottom and encourages growth of rooted weeds. These take up the limited nutrients
available in the pond and would never allow for a plankton build up. On the other hand, if a pond is
adequately fertilized just after filling, there is a rapid establishment of a plankton bloom that should
appropriately give acceptable secchi disc readings. A good plankton density shades the pond
bottom and consequently suppresses the growth of rooted aquatic weeds.
16.
DO FISH GET SICK?
Yes all animals have some disorder sometime in their life span, and do get sick!
Fish culture results in a higher fish population density in a small area than would normally be the
case in the wild. Under such conditions there is an increased likelihood of parasitic and
communicable diseases. Fish get infections, infestations, attacks and disorders from:
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Fungi
- Viruses, and
- Nutritional deficiencies
17.
HOW LONG DO FISH TAKE TO GROW TO MARKET SIZE?
Fish growth is affected by temperature, feed quality and feeding rate, fish species and age of fish at
stocking. In most literature on aquaculture in Africa it is common to state that fish can be harvested
within 6 months and thus have two fish crops per year. Unfortunately most work has been done in
pure tropical Africa. We in Botswana do not fall completely within the tropics. Although we do
experience very hot summers, the cool winter temperatures of late April to mind August (roughly 4
months) would not offer much in terms of fish weight gain. So on the basis of temperature the
growth period would seem to be limited to a maximum of eight months. To exploit this period of
ideal environmental conditions, pond stocking should be done by September of any calendar year.
Within this growth period, what size will the fish grow to? This is where quality of feed and age at
stocking come in. With good quality feed (at least 30% protein) one should be targeting at an FCR
of 3.0 at the worst (i.e. 1 gram weight gain from consuming 3 gram feed). The bigger the fish at
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stocking the better. An average individual weight of 50g stock of fingerlings gives the whole crop a
better chance of survival than those at 15 g. In this case, total individual fish weight gain from initial
stocking weight to a market size of 300 to 350 g seems easily achievable in 8 months growth
duration. It is obviously more economical if the target market size is reached within as short a
period as possible.
18.
HOW DO I HARVEST MY FISH CROP?
Fish can be harvested by non-draining or by draining of ponds.

Non-Draining of Ponds:
The practice of harvesting some fish during the production cycle is called partial harvesting or
intermittent cropping. Partial harvests are carried out to occasionally have enough fish for
household consumption or target the periods when fish prices are at their best. Where partial
harvests are common it is not often necessary to drain a pond. The seine net is the most efficient
gear for partial harvests. But other methods are occasionally used such as; baited fish traps, hook
and line and cast net.
Draining of Ponds:
When a pond is drained a complete harvest is possible. Pond draining also allows maintenance
time on the pond and an opportunity to improve on the pond soil (liming, fertilization. disease
treatments etc.) To effect pond drainage the pond bottom must be sloped to the drainage end. To
be able to drain the pond by gravity the pond bottom must be at least 10 cm above ground level.
Two methods of pond draining are possible, namely:
Cutting the dyke common with small scale farmers. The dyke has to be rebuilt after harvesting.
Using a drain pipe - can be a stand pipe connected by an elbow to act as both an overflow and a
drainage pipe.
19.
IS THERE A MARKET FOR FISH?
Nearly all of freshwater fish landed in the country is consumed in the north-western region. Maun
and Gumare are the two main centres where locally produced fish from the natural systems gets
marketed. Hardly does the fish reach the eastern and southern parts of the country. Botswanas
urban centres predominantly sell marine fish from either South Africa or Namibia. Fish from these
countries gets frozen onboard fishing vessels in the sea and by the time it reaches places like
Botswana it is a few months old.
Fish culture has the potential to produce freshwater fish that can be marketed live. When a hotel or
restaurant wants 500kg, partial harvesting can provide only the required quantity. With the change
in eating habits of most town dwellers fish has become an important substitute for red meat. The
good performance of the Botswana economy has over the past few years attracted a lot of
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foreigners who complain about lack of fish and too much nama (red meat) in this country. Market
trials by an enthusiastic private entrepreneur have shown that fresh bream would not sell for
anything less than P12 15.00 a kg.
20.
WHAT IS INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEM?
Integrated fish farming system makes use of the waste and by-products from the farming of livestock
or growing of crops. Their use as fish inputs to enhance fish production is often the most efficient
and versatile way to utilize them. In these techniques expenses on feed inputs is only on the
agricultural crop, while fish do not have to be fed. Examples of integration include:
Duck-cum-fish the ducks are stocked at a density of 750 to 1500 per ha in a fish pond. Ducks also
feed on tadpoles, snails, frogs, insect larvae and regularly fertilize the pond by directly defecating in
the water. Excess or waste duck feed benefits fish in the pond.
Pig-cum-fish 100 pigs per ha is recommended. Fish feed directly on pig excreta which is also an
excellent organic fertilizer that stimulates growth of dense natural fish food organisms.
Chicken-cum-fish To be of any use the chickens should be housed. Chicken house can be built
directly over the pond so that the excreta may fall in the pond water underneath. A stocking density
of 400-600 chickens/ha of pond water surface is used.
108
SOGES

Appendix 8. Dams stocked with fish from Mmadinare Hatchery
109
SOGES

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ACP Fish II Coordination Unit Service Contract n CU/PE1/MZ/10/004

Support for Devising of the Aquaculture Development Strategy for

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR

REPORT PREPARED BY : DR JEROME DAVIS,

Project implemented by Soges S.p.A. consortium

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

6.5. Education and Training ......................................................................................................... 46

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

List of tables, figures and photographs

Table 1. Fish farming enquiries at the DWNP office in Gaborone .................................................... 14

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

2. Status Of Aquaculture In Botswana

2.1. History of aquaculture in Botswana

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

A number of other projects were being proposed or evaluated at the time :

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

2.2 SME Aquaculture

Table 1. Fish farming enquiries at the DWNP office in Gaborone

However, no fish farms have become established due to :

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

The farmers lack of aquaculture technical skills and experience.

Informal live market

Stocking size will be dependent on farmer choice

60-65% live weight (head on/ gutted) species

35-40% live weight filleted

Figure 1. Tilapia value chain (Source courtesy of EnvirofishAfrica)

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

PVC dam liner

HOLDING SUPPLY DAM

PVC dam liner

WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM per POND

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

TOTAL - 10 pond farm

2.3. Stocking of Dams

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

Strategic Diagnostic Summary

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

3. Biophysical conditions for aquaculture

Average 10 Year Daily Temperatures Kasane Airport

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

Table 3. Effect of temperature on tilapia under culture conditions (courtesy of

Handling can lead to stress induced

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA

AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOTSWANA