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Image Alternative Text: Otogo Clement (left) weighs sampled fish from his fish farm in Cross River State during the black soldier fly larvae feed trials. Also in the photo, Bernard Agom stands to the right.

Farming Black Soldier Fly for Catfish Feed in Nigeria to Reduce Feed Costs

Otogo Clement, a fish farmer in Cross River State, considered abandoning his aquaculture enterprise in search of a new livelihood due to the high costs of fish production. However, Clement learned about the possibility of a cheaper fish feed alternative through the work of a Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish activity in Nigeria, giving him hope of continuing his enterprise.

Image Alternative Text: a fisher casting a net

Fish Innovation Lab Makes Waves in West Africa's Aquaculture Industry Using Innovative Solutions

Fish Innovation Lab researchers have been busy in Nigeria and Ghana with seven activities working to alleviate poverty and improve nutrition in vulnerable populations through improved aquaculture and fisheries systems. See the video for an overview of the work happening in West Africa.

Image Alternative Text: a person paddling a boat at sunset

Fish Innovation Lab Dives Into Research in East Africa to Improve Health and Sustainability

Watch this video to find out how eight Fish Innovation Lab activities in Kenya and Zambia have improved fishery sustainability, nutrition education, fish vaccine development, and more in East Africa.

Image Alternative Text: a picture of boats in a river in Asia

Fish Innovation Lab's Work in Asia Leads to Growth and Resilience in Aquaculture and Fisheries

Within the last five years, the activities in Bangladesh and Cambodia have worked to strengthen the aquaculture and fisheries sectors to improve the lives of men, women, and children in Asia. Watch the video to learn about how the research teams made these impressive strides.

Image Alternative Text: Yahia Mahmud, Director General for BFRI, officially received the G3 rohu strain from John Benzie, acting director of Aquatic Food Biosciences for WorldFish.

The Carp Genetic Improvement Program in Bangladesh Shares G3 Technology with the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute

The Carp Genetic Improvement Program in Bangladesh shared its G3 technology with the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute during a day-long workshop held on August 8, 2023. ''The government of Bangladesh has a target to produce 8.6 million tons of fish per year by 2041," said Kh. Mahbubul Haque, Director General of the Department of Fisheries. "It is clear that much of this targeted production must come from aquaculture, so we will have to increase productivity."

Image Alternative Text: Amarachi Nweke attended a workshop put on by the Farm Diversification team to learn more about rice-fish farming. Here, she is speaking at the workshop.

From Rice to Fish: Boosting Productivity and Nutrition Through Farm Diversification

Amarachi Nweke, from Ebonyi State in Nigeria, learned about how to convert rice fields to incorporate fish farming from the Fish Innovation Lab's Farm Diversification team. "When I heard about the activity, I was delighted to learn that I can combine my rice cultivation with fish farming," Nweke said. "I could tell it would bring benefits to me and other people who decide to participate. The possibility of combining rice and fish production brings hope to me and my people that we can produce more in our fields."

Image Alternative Text: Atinuke Onaduja is showing off the fish oil gotten by using Lean technology.

Onaduja Transformed her Business With Lean Tools and Helped Others do the Same

Atinuke Onaduja learned how to be more efficient and reduce waste to improve her fish farming operation through a Fish Innovation Lab activity on Lean management. "The Lean training has changed everything,” Onaduja said. “You want to invest your energy in things that are productive, and this activity has shown me how to shift my focus."

Image Alternative Text: Oludayo Oluyemi responding to questions on behalf of his team during Lean training in Ogun State.

Oluyemi Used Lean Tools to Identify and Address the Causes of Fish Mortality

Oludayo Oluyemi was experiencing a case of high fish mortality in his ponds, but thanks to the Fish Innovation Lab's Lean training program, he learned how to identify appropriate solutions to on farm challenges such as using salt as an alternative to antibiotics depending on what the fish need. "Thank God for this opportunity to learn about Lean management to make sure I am on the right path in the aquaculture sector," Oluyemi said. "I am now better aware of waste, and the tools learned have been very helpful."

Image Alternative Text: Onorame Otomiewo doing clean up after she found out the root cause of the problem in her hatchery during the Lean training in Ogun State.

Otomiewo Used Lean Tools to Turn Around the Aquaculture Business of her Farming Cluster

When Onorame Otomiewo from Nigeria got involved with the Fish Innovation Lab's activity on Lean management, she said it was a turning point for her and her business. After completing the 9-day Lean training program in Ogun State, she gained the knowledge and skills needed to revolutionize her farm and help other fish farmers in her farm cluster.

Image Alternative Text: Isah Hussaini presented an activity report for his group during the Lean training in Ogun State.

Hussaini Used Lean Skills to Improve Record Keeping and Aquaculture Productivity

Isah Hussaini, from Nigeria, was struggling with keeping records and managing costs on his fish farm before attending a Lean management training by a Fish Innovation Lab activity. "Before the training, I never kept records because I was always extremely busy,” Hussaini said. "However, during the training, I realized the importance of record keeping. The profit I thought I was earning was not even close to what I was actually making because there were a lot of missing pieces since I was not recording consistently. Now, I take detailed records of everything."