TCP/ZAM/4405[A]

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF FISH-CULTURE IN ZAMBIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS


REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA


REPORT PREPARED BY


RICHARD L'HEUREUX
ECONOMIST

SUMMARY

Fish is a major source of animal protein in Zambia. During the past 15 years however, Zambians have reduced their fish consumption because of the economic hardships which their country has been through. Even by developing capture fisheries to their full potential, it is doubtful that Zambia could maintain consumption per caput to existing level ten years from now. Therefore additional supplies will have to come from imports or fish-farming. Import potential is very limited due to the existing balance of payment problems. In that context, fish-farming represents a promising activity oriented towards one of the country's essential needs.

During the past decade, many companies, commercial farms have added fish-farming to their on-going operations. Even if fish-farming is generally marginal compared to their main operation, they have carried it with much enthusiasm and obtained encouraging results. Many have plans for expansion. However, successful fish-farming development depends on adequate technical back-up which should help fish-farmers in using best development and management methods.

Economic analysis indicates that fish-farming can be an attractive financial proposal, mostly when associated with animal husbandry like pig or duck raising, which provides free fertilizer for the ponds. Financial institutions in Zambia have recognized this potential by extending loans for fish-farming development. This report assesses the economic viability of different fish-farming options. Its conclusions however are related to the existing conditions of the Zambian economy and in particular the balance of payments, which has known growing difficulties in the recent years. Therefore, those conclusions should be adapted, eventually to changing economic conditions.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
JULY 1985


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

2. GENERAL ECONOMIC CONTEXT

2.1 Population

2.2 Main economic sectors

2.2.1 Agriculture

2.2.2 Mining

2.2.3 Manufacturing sector

2.2.4 Energy

2.2.5 Transport

2.3 Recent economic trends

2.4 Economic guidelines

3. FISHERIES SECTOR

3.1 Demand for fish

3.2 Supply of fish

3.3 Marketing

3.3.1 Taste preferences

3.3.2 Size preferences

3.4 Fisheries Development

4. FISH-FARMING IN ZAMBIA

4.1 UNDP/FAO project

4.1.1 Development program

4.1.1.1 Pond construction cost in Chilanga

4.1.1.2 Pond construction cost in Mwekera

4.1.1.3 Pond construction cost in Chipata

4.1.2 Fish-farm management (Chilanga)

4.1.2.1 Feed and fertilizer

4.1.2.2 Pig-cum-fish

4.1.2.3 Duck-cum-fish

4.1.2.4 Polyculture of Cyprinus carpio and Tilapia

4.1.2.5 Mwekera fish-farm

4.1.2.6 Chipata fish-farm

4.2 Commercial fish-farming

4.2.1 Lazy A. Ranching Co. Ltd., Chingola

4.2.2 W.L. Cherry Ltd., Ndola

4.2.3 Mrs. Rosen's Farm, Ndola

4.2.4 Mr. Kaira's Farm

4.2.5 Ndola Lime Company, Ndola

4.2.6 Copperbelt Power Co. Ltd., Kitwe

4.2.7 Bauer Farm, Lusaka

4.2.8 Kafue Fisheries, Kafue

4.2.9 Mubuyu Fish-Farm

4.2.10 Zambia Sugar Company (ZSC), Mazabuka

5. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

5.1 Farm-Design

5.1.1 Breeding ponds

5.1.2 Rearing ponds

5.1.3 Production ponds

5.2 Base capital cost

5.3 Basic revenues and expenses

5.3.1 Taxation

5.4 Salvage value of assets

5.5 Release of working capital

5.6 Direct feed option

5.7 Chicken manure option

5.8 Pig-cum-fish option

5.9 Duck-cum-fish option

5.10 10 HA fish-farm

5.11 Analysis of fish-farming options

5.11.1 Economies of scale with 10 ha fish-farm

5.11.2 Impact of learning period

5.12 Fish-farm man development using labor intensive methods

6. CONCLUSIONS

LIST OF TABLES

2.1 Estimation of number of farm-units per province

2.2 Zambia selected economic indicators

2.3 Zambia: Urban population, 1980

3.1 Zambia: Projected demand for fish based on population and per caput consumption increase in tons

3.2 Zambia fish production by major species, 1981, in tons

3.3 Prices of fish, Lusaka, April 1985 (main fish market)

3.4 Fish & meat prices, retail, Kitwe, April 1985

4.1 Pond construction costs incurred under UNDP/FAO project

4.2 Farm-gate fish prices of commercial fish-farms, per kg

5.1 Stocking and harvesting schedule

5.2 5 HA commercial fish-farm with 50 A production ponds

5.3 5 HA commercial fish-farm with 25 A production ponds

5.4 5 HA commercial fish-farm with 15 A production ponds

5.5 5 HA fish-farm, base capital cost

5.6 Annual cost of labor and management

5.7 Feed requirements per are, per day

5.8 Feed requirements, quantities and costs

5.9 Option I: Direct feed - Working capital - Projected Profit and Loss statement

5.10 Profit tax computation, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, direct feed

5.11 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, direct feed

5.12 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 2,500 m2 ponds, direct feed

5.13 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 1,500 m2 ponds, direct feed

5.14 Chicken manure requirements and costs, based on a norm of 130 G/M2/week

5.14A Option II - Chicken manure: Working capital - Projected Profit and Loss statement

5.15 Profit tax computation, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Chicken manure

5.16 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Chicken manure

5.17 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 2,500 m2 ponds, Chicken manure

5.18 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 1,500 m2 ponds, Chicken manure

5.19 Option III - Pig-cum-fish: Additional fixed capital -Working capital - Projected profit and loss statement

5.20 Profit tax computation, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Pig-cum-fish

5.21 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Pig-cum-fish

5.22 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 2,500 m2 ponds, Pig-cum-fish

5.23 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 1,500 m2 ponds, Pig-cum-fish

5.24 Ducks population on 5 HA fish-farm

5.25 Feed and litter requirements for ducks, quantities and costs

5.26 Cost of replacing breeders

5.27 Option IV - Duck-cum-fish: Additional fixed capital -Working capital

5.28 Option IV - Duck-cum-fish - Projected profit and loss statement

5.29 Profit tax computation, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Duck-cum-fish

5.30 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, Duck-cum-fish

5.31 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 2,500 m2 ponds, Duck-cum-fish

5.32 Financial rate of return, 5 HA fish-farm, 1,500 m2 ponds, Duck-cum-fish

5.33 10 HA fish-farm, direct feed, 5,000 m2 ponds, Base capital cost - Working capital

5.34 10 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, direct feed Projected profit & Loss statement

5.35 Profit tax computation, 10 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, direct feed option

5.36 Financial rate of return, 10 HA fish-farm, 5,000 m2 ponds, direct feed

5.37 Cost of pond construction per HA, in Kwacha

5.38 Potential rates of return of fish farming options, 5 HA fish-farm

LIST OF ANNEXES

Annex 1 Zambia - TCP/ZAM/4405(A): Pilot Fish Seed Production and Distribution Centre

Annex 2 Zambia Urban Consumer Price Indices 1975 = 100

Annex 3 Zambia: Number of Major Dams

Annex 4 -Construction costs estimates

Annex 5 Plant Hire/Daywork Rates for 1985

Annex 6 Marketed Production of Selected Livestock in the Commercial Sector, 1983, 1984

Annex 7 Lusaka, Meat Prices, April 1985, in Kwacha

Annex 8 Summary of Recorded Marketed Pig Slaughtering by Province

Annex 9 Persons Met

Annex 10 Bibliography