Shortage of fish feeds has been one of the biggest challenges in commercial fish farming.

As a result, fish farmers have had to rely on costly imported feeds to survive in a business whose potential is largely unexploited. However, there is some hope for fish farmers and the sector in general, thanks to a new fish feeds factory that has recently started operations in the country.

In the aftermath of its launch, the cost of fish feeds has reduced by almost half, from about Rwf1, 500 to Rwf800 per kilogramme. The new factory, located at Kigali Special Economic Zone, and has capacity to produce about 700 kilogrammes of feeds per hour.

This is good news for the commercial fish farmers. It is also a good opportunity for anyone looking out for a promising business opportunity. Commercial fish farming is a lucrative venture and more people should be sensitised to exploit this opportunity.

With increased access and reduced cost of feeds, the key stakeholders should put incentives in place to encourage more people to venture into commercial fish farming.

The annual fish consumption per person in Rwanda is below the recommended quantity. To reach the ideal consumption levels, it requires increased productivity in the sector. Rwanda’s total fish production from both aquaculture and capture fisheries amounts to 26,500 tonnes per year, which is still low compared to the target of 112,000 tonnes by 2018.

The country imports about 15,000 tonnes of fish per year, according to figures from Rwanda Agriculture Board. However, this can be reversed once local production is boosted. And with affordable feeds, which account for over 50 per cent of costs related to fish farming, there is hope that the 2018 target will be realised.