Supplementary feeding for farmed fish in Uganda - TECA Technology Highlight (Technology for Agriculture)

TECA Technology for Agriculture - Proven technologies for small holders


Nile Tilapia.© NARO/2003/Uganda.

Most fish farmers believe that fish is a wild animal. They think that once put in pond water, it will survive naturally without adding any food supplement. This has resulted into pond fish taking a long period to reach a reasonable size. Most farmers add manure like cow dung and chicken droppings. This technology focused on supplementary feeding and list some recommended types of fish for faming in Uganda.

The purpose is to increase the productivity of the pond to develop natural feeds such as small plants (algae) and small animals. These do not cater for immediate feed requirements of the fish. Therefore there is need to supplement the existing natural feeds with artificial ones which are consumed immediately by fish.

Supplementary feeding
Supplementary feeding involves adding feed from other sources other than the natural feeds from the pond, because natural food may not be adequate for fish growth. The farmer is therefore advised to use supplementary feed to enhance proper fish growth. Supplementary food provides nutrients like proteins, oils and carbohydrates that re essential for fish growth. The food supplements can be formulated at home and include:
- Cassava flour
- Mukene (Omena)
- Maize bran and
- Sun flower cake (residue got after extracting oil from sunflower seeds using a ram press).

Mixing supplementary feeds
Mix 4 tumpecos (equivalent to 2 litres cups) of maize bran, 3 (equivalent to 1,5 litres cups) of cassava flour, 2 (equivalent to 1 litre cup) of mukene (pounded/ground) and 1 (equivalent to1 half litre cup) of sunflower cake in order to get a good feed mixture.

Applying supplementary feeds
Application of supplementary feeds differ with different farmed fish species.

1. For Tilapia (Ngege):
- In the fist two months sprinkle 1 tumpeco (equivalent to 1 half litre cup) of the above mixture (½ in the morning and ½ in the evening) for 400 fish in the pond. The quantities vary according to the number of fish in the pond as illustrated in the table. (See the image:Quantity of feed for Tilapia)

- When the fish is 2 months in the pond, mingle one tumpeco of the above mixture in hot water. Put in the container which is flatand has small holes at the bottom and lower it in the water in the morning, add another half in the evening. Increase the quantity of the feed as fish grows in the pond. (See the image: Figure 1)

- Fish is fed twice at 9:00am (morning) and 3:00 pm (afternoon). When the fish is 3-8 months of age, the farmers mingled feed mixture with hot water. The mingled feed mixture is divided into smaller pieces and placed into flat containers and lowered gently into the pond. These containers are distributed uniformly in the pond depending on the number of fish; the more the fish the more the foods distributed.

2. For clarias (E’male / Ekolet):
- Mingle and apply half a Tumpeco (equivalent to ¼ litre cup) of the mixture of maize bran, mukene and sunflower cake to the pond in the morning. Add the same quantity in the evening. This should start right from the time of stocking. After two months increase the quantity as the fish demand for food increases.

Benefits
- Faster growth of fish;
- Better yields;
- Improved incomes.

There is an increasing demand for fish in the country especially in the rural communities. This is due to the growing export market and the rise of the population. As an alternative, the demand can be catered for though fish farming. However, farmers lack knowledge of what fish to farm in their ponds.

Recommended types of fish for faming in Uganda

Uganda: Nile Tilapia. NARO

Nile Tilapia (Ngege, Kibaati)
- It breeds easily in ponds;
- Tastes good
- Grows fast to about 300g in 8 months in hot areas of the country North and some parts of Eastern Uganda;
- Method of seed production is easily available and inexpensive;
- Can withstand harsh conditions in the pond;
- Grows well with Mmale and common carp in the same pond;
- Can be linked with other farming practices such as poultry, where poultry wastes are used to fertilise the fish pond.

Uganda: Common carp. NARO Common carp (Mirror carp)
- Grows well in highland areas like South-Western in Uganda, Bundibugyo, Kabale and Eastern Uganda, Mbale, and Kapchorwa;
- Grows up to 500g in 8 months;
- Can be grown together with Ngege.

Uganda: Catfish. NARO African Catfish (Mmale)
- Withstands harsh conditions in the pond;
- Tastes good;
- Can grow up to 500g in a period of 7-8 months;
- Can grow in both hot and cold areas;
- Good bait for Nile Perch fishing;
- Controls overpopulation of ngege by eating its young;
- Grows well with Ngege.

Uganda: Tilapia Zilli. NARO Tilapia Zilli (Ngege kifudu)
- Breeds very easily;
- Feeds on locally available plant materials, potato vines, cabbages and yam leaves;
- Can grow up to 200g in 7-8 months;
- Can grow together with catfish.

Did you know ?

Fish is important for good nutrition, income generation, provision of employment and foreign exchange earning. Uganda earned over 80 million USA Dollars in 2001 through the export of Nile perch and other related products.

Do you know how many lakes are in Uganda?