Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has successfully conducted a short course on fish farming to agricultural entrepreneurs. The training, which involved 33 self-sponsored participants including six females, was conducted from 6th to 9th May 2019 at SUA. Twelve (12) participants came from Morogoro; Nine (9) participants from Dar es Salaam and three (3) participants from Mwanza. Three regions of Dodoma, Manyara and Arusha each had two participants whereas one participant each came from Iringa, Pwani and Singida. The training constituted theory, which was delivered at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) Conference Hall and practical, which was conducted at Magadu Farm.
Participants of the short course on fish farming following attentively a training session at ICE (Photo by SUAMEDIA)
Course objectives
The course intended to achieve the following:
- Participant should be able to understand and explain general concept of fish farming and fish farming best practices in Tanzania
- Participant should acquire and practice skills on how to construct fish pond of various type and size
- Participant should understand how to fertilize fish pond
- Participant should understand how transport and transfer fingerlings from the producer to the fish pond
- Participant should understand general concept of fish nutrition, how to prepare feed, how to feed the fish and proper feed storage.
- Participant should understand general concept of intergraded fish farming and be able to integrate fish farming, crop production and livestock keeping.
- Participant should understand general concept of fish harvesting and be able to harvest fish from the pond.
- Participant should understand general concept of record keeping and be able to keep records related to fish farming
Participants of fish farming short course visiting fish farming demonstrations at Magadu farm, SUA
Opening ceremony of the training
The opening of the training was officiated by Prof. F. Kahimba, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance- A&F), SUA on 7th May 2019. The DVC was thrilled by the number of participants who turned up. He was confident that the commitment showed by participants in the course will be translated into improvement of fish farming practices. Prof. Kahimba recommended that this training should serve as a model for envisaged short courses offered at SUA. He also recommended that similar courses need to be offered at zonal levels. The DVC congratulated the Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences (DAARS) and the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) for successfully organizing the course. He commended the efforts of the Head DAARS Prof. Chenyambuga and the trainers, the Director ICE Prof. Mwaseba and the entire outreach team at the Institute.
Participants of short course on fish farming posing for a photo with Prof. Kahimba, the DVC (A&F), first row (center) during official opening ceremony of the course (Photo by SUAMEDIA)
Facilitation and Coordination
Trainers of the course included Prof. S. Chenyambuga, Dr. R. Mnubi, Dr. B. Mnembuka, Dr. H. Lamtane, Dr. A. Mwandya, Mr. P. Kinyage and Mr. A. Tegemea under the auspice of DAARS. The coordination of the training was done by staff from ICE in collaboration with those from DAARS.
Media coverage of the training
The course was advertised using SUAFM radio, SUA website and SUA Facebook page and was covered by SUAMEDIA.
Closing Ceremony and Awards
The guest of honour Prof. S. Chenyambuga, the Head DAARS presided at the closing ceremony of the training on 9th May 2019. Prof. Chenyambuga thanked and congratulated participants, trainers and coordinators for making the training a success. All participants were awarded certificates of participation at the end of the course for acknowledging their readiness and motivation for utilizing training opportunities available at SUA
One of the trainees of the short course on fish farming receiving a certificate of participation from the guest of Honor Prof. Chenyambuga (Photo by SUAMEDIA).
Acknowledgment
The Institute of Continuing Education, Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences and SUA at large wish to thank participants of the course for using opportunities available at SUA, financing over 90% of training cost including transport, accommodation, meals and incidentals whereas SUA subsidized the training fee. Thanks also go to facilitators and organizing team from DAARS and ICE
By:
Dr. Innocent H.Babili
ICE, SUA