Ingredient Selection For Aquaculture Feeds In Muchinga Province, Zambia

Abstract

Aquaculture in Africa faces significant challenges, particularly due to the highcostsof fish feed, which can represent 40-70% of the total production expenses. Thepresent study aimed to analyze the types of local ingredients available for fishfeedproduction, their regions of production, and their seasonal availability. To collect this data, 200 stakeholders were interviewed across four districts in MuchingaProvince: Chinsali, Nakonde, Isoka, and Mpika. A total of 20 different ingredientswere ranked based on availability and abundance, with 60%classified as plant- based, 27% as animal sources, and 9% as other types of ingredients. Resultsindicated that among the plant ingredients, the primary sources included maize(Zea mays), which accounted for 27%, followed by sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and rice (Oryza sativa), each representing 22%. Other notable plant sources werecassava (Manihot esculenta) at 9%, velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) at 17%, cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) at 6.2%, and chikanda (Disa robusta) at 9%. For animal ingredients, the predominant sources were two types of caterpillars, with thefirst species (Gonimbrasia belina) making up 86% and the second species comprising14%. Additionally, various by-product ingredients were identified that wouldbebeneficial, including palm seed oil (Elaeis guineensis) 20%, sunflower cake65%, rice bran 11%, soybean cake 4%, chikanda powder 3%, and cassava chips 7%. The study underscored the diversity of local ingredients in Zambia that can beusedfor creating fish feeds. Additionally, it offered important perspectives onthesourcing and assessment of these ingredients, suggesting that proximate analysisand digestibility studies be carried out to determine their nutritional propertiesfor possible inclusion in fish feed formulations. By employing these strategies, stakeholders can optimize fish feed production, enhance the overall healthof aquaculture systems, and contribute to the sustainability of food productioninZambia. As the aquaculture sector continues to grow, leveraging local resourceswill be important to achieving food security and economic development intheregion.