Promoting sustainable fish farming for improved nutrition in Kasese district, Uganda
Date Published: 12/04/2024
Rwenzori Together We Can Community Initiative (RTOWECI) wishes to promote fish farming through Aquaculture and fish farming development in Kasese district, Rwenzori region, western Uganda. The project will aim at enhancing and fostering youth inclusion in skills and business resilience ecosystem for job creation, employment opportunities, self-reliance, sustainable income and improved nutrition and livelihoods The initiative will conserve the environment and demonstrate the feasibility of fish farming as well as encouraging small scale fish farmers with a long term goal to overcome fresh fish scarcity and poverty. This project will provide an avenue for the local people (unemployed youths and women) to support their own living by having access to basic services for self-reliance and increased income through the sales of their fish.
The project will promote fish farming as a key source of employment for by implementing a comprehensive strategy that combines job creation with skills development, financial empowerment and long-term business resilience. This approach will focus on training youth in modern fishing methods and aquaculture development, market linkages and entrepreneurship while incorporating innovative technology and sustainable practices as summarized below.
Aquaculture and Fish Farming Development: Youth in Kasese will be trained in sustainable aquaculture practices, incorporating both traditional fish capture methods from local lakes and rivers as well as fish farming for species such as tilapia which is a viable sources of income. To enable the youth to establish fish farms, this initiative will provide access to empowerment program of offering essential fish farming kits that include pond liners, fingerlings, fish species and feeds. These resources will empower them to launch small-scale aquaculture enterprises. Additionally, training in sustainable practices will ensure that youth adopt environmentally friendly techniques, helping to prevent overfishing and promote the conservation of fish stocks in local water bodies such as Lake George and Lake Edward.
Market Linkages and Digital Integration: The initiative will introduce digital tools tailored to the needs of fishermen such as mobile banking and savings applications. These tools will allow youth to save their earnings, access loans, and invest in growing their businesses, while also improving financial literacy and promoting financial discipline. Additionally, an innovative opportunity exists in leveraging the tourism sector by offering fishing experiences for tourists, where they can participate in fishing activities while learning about sustainable practices. This approach will not only create employment but also attract revenue from tourism, enhancing the district’s economic growth.
Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Formation: The project will promote collective ownership and mutual support and will also facilitate the formation of fishing cooperatives. These cooperatives will give youth access to credit, fishing equipments, and business skills training, providing a platform for group ownership and profit-sharing, fostering sustainable livelihoods. Through Business Development Services (BDS), the youth will also receive training in managing their fishing enterprises, including cash flow management, scaling operations, and effective marketing strategies. This focus on entrepreneurship will foster self-reliance and strengthen the long-term resilience of their initiative.
The beneficiaries will incorporate innovative technology like use of media platforms for increased efficiency, improved productivity, enhance visibility, increase access to market and marketing opportunities and increased partnership for popularize the project to a wider audience for greater impact and sustainability
The project will promote fish farming as a key source of employment for by implementing a comprehensive strategy that combines job creation with skills development, financial empowerment and long-term business resilience. This approach will focus on training youth in modern fishing methods and aquaculture development, market linkages and entrepreneurship while incorporating innovative technology and sustainable practices as summarized below.
Aquaculture and Fish Farming Development: Youth in Kasese will be trained in sustainable aquaculture practices, incorporating both traditional fish capture methods from local lakes and rivers as well as fish farming for species such as tilapia which is a viable sources of income. To enable the youth to establish fish farms, this initiative will provide access to empowerment program of offering essential fish farming kits that include pond liners, fingerlings, fish species and feeds. These resources will empower them to launch small-scale aquaculture enterprises. Additionally, training in sustainable practices will ensure that youth adopt environmentally friendly techniques, helping to prevent overfishing and promote the conservation of fish stocks in local water bodies such as Lake George and Lake Edward.
Market Linkages and Digital Integration: The initiative will introduce digital tools tailored to the needs of fishermen such as mobile banking and savings applications. These tools will allow youth to save their earnings, access loans, and invest in growing their businesses, while also improving financial literacy and promoting financial discipline. Additionally, an innovative opportunity exists in leveraging the tourism sector by offering fishing experiences for tourists, where they can participate in fishing activities while learning about sustainable practices. This approach will not only create employment but also attract revenue from tourism, enhancing the district’s economic growth.
Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Formation: The project will promote collective ownership and mutual support and will also facilitate the formation of fishing cooperatives. These cooperatives will give youth access to credit, fishing equipments, and business skills training, providing a platform for group ownership and profit-sharing, fostering sustainable livelihoods. Through Business Development Services (BDS), the youth will also receive training in managing their fishing enterprises, including cash flow management, scaling operations, and effective marketing strategies. This focus on entrepreneurship will foster self-reliance and strengthen the long-term resilience of their initiative.
The beneficiaries will incorporate innovative technology like use of media platforms for increased efficiency, improved productivity, enhance visibility, increase access to market and marketing opportunities and increased partnership for popularize the project to a wider audience for greater impact and sustainability
