Fish farming

BKF wishes to orient the development of the activity as a sustainable and reasonable aquaculture

Description
Documents

Fish farming is a specialization of aquaculture, it designates the breeding of fish in natural environment or in artificial pond, intended for consumption. It includes three distinct farming sectors: salmon farming, marine fish farming and pond fish farming.

BKF has set up 4 freshwater ponds (pond fish farming) in rural areas with the size of 106.5m2 as part of an environmentally friendly approach and providing good rearing conditions for fry and fish, thus ensuring permanent vigilance of water quality (water renewal) to preserve their good growth and health.

BKF wishes to orient the development of the activity as a sustainable and reasonable aquaculture around the preservation of the environment, the well-being of the fish (quality of the water and the installations, controlled feeding), and the protection of the consumer (guarantees of freshness and traceability).

Types of farming

The fish raised in the ponds are monosex tilapia, "all male". This technique is called monosex farming: Males are preferable because they grow almost twice as fast as females.Tilapia are exotic fish eaten in abundance in many countries.Tilapia is the farmed fish par excellence: It is the second most farmed fish in the world, after carp.

The name tilapia is actually applied to different white fishes belonging to the Cichlidae family, including Oreochromis niloticus - the most common Nile tilapia - Sarotherodon and Tilapia.

Tilapia has been eaten for centuries in Africa, its continent of origin. Simply cooked in the microwave, in the frying pan, in the oven or on the barbecue, tilapia is appreciated for its white and firm flesh, practically without bones. Very cheap, it is rich in proteins and its very sweet taste is appreciated, even by children. Tilapia is also a source of omega-3, vitamin B12, B3, phosphorus and potassium. It contains more magnesium and iron than salmon.

In BKF's rearing ponds, food is provided to the fish every 4 hours in order for them to develop well. They are fed with cereal based food which will be complemented by vegetable food. The fish farming team will prepare a specific and adapted food as soon as the fry are mature enough.

10,000 fingerlings have been integrated into a specific nursery pond for the moment we have released all the fish nurseries of which have reached sufficient growth to be moved to the adult ponds.

We have started fencing all the ponds and covered the top ponds with nets in order to protect them from bird predators and other intruders.

This activity is part of BKF's "agricultural-fish farming" dimension, which has a dual objective :

On the one hand, to support the development of family farming which already constitutes the capacity of the region to feed its populations through local production and the strengthening of efficient short circuits. Indeed, in the long term, the strengthening of these short production circuits allows local populations to be less dependent on food purchases that are likely to vary in terms of cost and quantity. This guarantees the availability of locally produced food by limiting access to external purchases, as well as promoting local initiatives to strengthen access to food through viable and sustainable family farming, and sharing the benefits of an improved agricultural model that is sustainable and respectful of the environment and bio-diversity.
On the other hand, to reserve the profits of the sales resulting from the production to serve the missions of BKF of assistance to the most vulnerable, the orphanages as well as children with handicaps. To serve the interests of the community by financing projects to improve the daily life of the villagers.