Malkerns – Twenty-two million Emalangeni worth of commercialised aquaculture has been rolled out in Eswatini, thanks to the Taiwan–Eswatini Aquaculture Cooperation Project.
The Phase II aquaculture commercialisation programme to run from 2026 to 2029 following the successful completion of Phase I in 2020–2025, which established a solid foundation for shifting fish farming in the country from subsistence activity to a market-driven industry.
Among the major milestones of Phase I was the establishment of Eswatini’s first Aquaculture Research and Production Centre at the Malkerns Agricultural Research Station. The facility now serves as the national focal point for aquaculture research, breeding, training, and technology dissemination.
Propelling the Phase II launch in Malkerns on Friday, the initial phase produced more than 450,000 quality fingerlings, which were supplied to 125 farmers countrywide, Project Manager Samuel Liu had said.
He added that the project also supported fish production in reservoirs and river restocking programmes.
Liu explained that Phase I was implemented at a cost of about US$1.38 million (E22m) at the current exchange rate), with Taiwan contributing US$1.01 million (E16m) and the government of Eswatini US$370,000 (E6m).
Over the five-year period, the project conducted more than 300 training workshops, constructed 60 cement fish tanks, and developed various supporting infrastructure to strengthen the national aquaculture system.
A major technical success, according to Liu, was the selective breeding of tilapia, which shortened the grow-out cycle from 10 months to five months, enabling faster production and higher output.
The centre is also carrying out breeding trials on species such as freshwater lobster, freshwater bass, African catfish, and the endangered orange-fringed largemouth bream (Chetia brevis), creating opportunities for species diversification.
Liu said farmers have benefited from consistent access to quality fingerlings, technical backstopping, and standard operating procedures, leading to noticeable improvements in skills and productivity.
“Aquaculture in Eswatini is no longer confined to household subsistence. It is gradually evolving into a commercial enterprise,” he said.
He further noted that locally developed, low-cost fish feeds have reduced reliance on imported products, while cage culture technology has improved the efficient use of water resources and boosted yields.
Phase II will continue using the Malkerns centre as a national platform for scaling up aquaculture technologies. The four-year programme targets the expansion of commercial fish farming, promotion of large-scale production, and development of reservoir cage culture and irrigation canal aquaculture.
Other goals include increasing production of indigenous fish species, cutting fish import dependence, improving rural livelihoods, and strengthening food security and nutrition.
Key interventions will include establishing regional fingerling supply networks, developing high-value species, supporting commercial farms, setting up basic processing and marketing facilities, and strengthening the national aquaculture extension system.
Lui revealed that during Phase II, more than one million fingerlings are expected to be distributed.
“The project will also produce and supply catfish and freshwater crayfish, conserve 20 aquatic species, build six demonstration ponds and two greenhouses, participate in trade exhibitions, introduce smart farming systems, and utilise solar energy to support environmentally sustainable production,” he noted.
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