Matrouh Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture Initiative

Abstract

Under the framework of the S4I AOW02 - Pathways to Scale in Agrifood Systems (2.3.4) – Egypt, which aims to expand the adoption of integrated aquaculture–agriculture (IAA) systems to enhance sustainability and maximize productivity per unit area, builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the WorldFish and Sustainable Development center for Matrouh resources (SDCMR) -a governmental entity under the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation- that extends approximately 500 km along North Coast and 70 km inland. A field mission was conducted to Matrouh Governorate to launch the “100 integrated aquaculture ponds” initiative, under the collaboration between WorldFish and the SDCMR The activity was implemented in alignment with the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) science program, specifically through WorldFish’s Aquatic Animal Genetics program team to establish a broodstock unit of the improved Abbassa tilapia strain in Matrouh, to Establishing a genetics dissemination hub - operationalizing a 10 million fingerling capacity hatchery to disseminate and promote the genetically improved Abbassa strain (G9) of Nile tilapia, fast-growing, high-performance fish that will support the integrated aquaculture–agriculture farms in Al-Moghra and surrounding areas, ensuring sustainable access to genetically improved fish.