Harare - In 2025, Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector reached a defining moment as FAO’s FISH4ACP initiative turned long-recognized potential into tangible gains for farmers, institutions and markets. Through climate-smart innovation and inclusive enterprise models the programme strengthened the tilapia value chain while expanding economic opportunities for women and youth. As a fast‑growing, high‑demand species that provides income for thousands of small‑scale farmers, tilapia plays a central role in strengthening livelihoods and driving the expansion of Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector.
Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector has long been underutilized despite its potential to contribute to food security and economic development. FISH4ACP, a global initiative led by FAO, is addressing this gap by enhancing the productivity, inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability of the tilapia value chain.
The project has introduced smart technologies such as alternative fish feed sources like black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, which reduce costs and environmental sustainability by converting organic waste into high-quality protein and producing nutrient-rich fertilizer. These innovations are helping farmers improve yields and reduce costs by up to 40 percent while maintaining ecological balance. The BSF model also supports and promotes inclusivity by involving women and youth in the value chain. However, challenges remain in scaling production, logistics, and regulatory compliance.
FISH4ACP places strong emphasis on inclusivity. By targeting women and youth, the initiative is creating pathways for marginalized groups to participate meaningfully in aquaculture. More than 350 farmers in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe were trained in inclusivity and assertiveness in sustainable aquaculture farming. FISH4ACP is aiming to increase women and youth participation from a baseline 10 percent to 40 percent threshold. Training programmes, access to finance, and technical support are enabling smallholders to scale their operations and contribute to local economies.
FAO is working closely with national institutions to strengthen policy frameworks that support aquaculture development. This includes capacity building for government agencies, private sector actors, and farmer associations. The initiative also promotes collaboration across the value chain, from hatcheries to processors, to ensure coherence and sustainability.
Zimbabwe is set to introduce its first-ever Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, marking a major milestone in developing a sustainable and competitive fish sector. The draft law, validated by stakeholders and soon to be presented to Parliament, seeks to regulate and promote responsible fisheries and aquaculture, attract investment, and strengthen value chains, particularly for tilapia production. Government officials have described it as a “game-changer” that could help build a USD 1 billion fish economy by 2032, targeting 14,000 tonnes of farmed tilapia worth about USD 22 million annually while advancing Zimbabwe’s vision for a resilient and inclusive blue economy.
As FISH4ACP transitions into 2026, the initiative reaffirms its commitment to consolidating and scaling gains achieved in 2025 by deepening implementation that is firmly anchored in evidence, experience and lessons learned on the ground. Building on practical insights from climate‑smart technologies, inclusive enterprise models and policy support delivered over the past year, FISH4ACP will prioritise adaptive programming, stronger institutional capacity, and market‑driven solutions to sustain growth in Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector.
This forward‑looking approach is strategically aligned with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) objectives on Food security, climate resilience, and environmental protection as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), reinforcing FAO’s commitment to resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
“FAO remains fully committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s policy priorities and institutional reforms that enable sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Through FISH4ACP, we will continue to work closely with Government and partners to translate lessons from implementation into scalable, evidence‑based solutions that advance national development objectives, strengthen food and nutrition security, and ensure no one is left behind,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.
As FAO marked 80 years of transforming agrifood systems globally, its 2025 interventions in Zimbabwe underscored how targeted partnerships and innovation can unlock growth in one of the country’s most underutilized sectors. FAO’s FISH4ACP initiative has been strengthening Zimbabwe’s tilapia industry by generating economic opportunities and assisting small-scale fish farmers, especially women and young people.
Source: FAO