GIZ | Scaling systems and partnerships for accelerating the adoption of improved tilapia strains by small-scale fish farmers (SPAITS). Progress report: January to December 2021

Abstract

Global demand for seafood continues to rise, driven by population growth, higher incomes, urbanization, and increasing preference for aquatic foods. The growth of aquaculture is critical to meet increasing demand for fish. One of the bottlenecks constraining sustainable aquaculture development is the lack of improved fish strains. This results in aquaculture with poor growth rates, high mortality, and high production costs. This projects purpose is to design dissemination systems for improved tilapia, based on performance assessment evidence and contextual knowledge that will enable poor, small-scale fish farmers to have access to, adopt and benefit from improved strains of tilapia. The project is intended to accelerate the dissemination and adoption of improved tilapia strains developed by WorldFish. The project works in three target countries, Bangladesh, Malawi, and Myanmar to deliver the following four research outputs: 1) Assessment of dissemination systems and models for improved tilapia strains, 2) Integrated performance assessments of improved tilapia strains in participating small-scale fish farming households, 3) Capacity of national partners for the dissemination of improved tilapia strains, the improvement of farm management, and the conduct of performance assessments strengthened, and 4) Dissemination system designs, assessment tools and packages of management practices deployed and disseminated.