An overview on local alternative ingredients, aquafeed supply and feeding management in selected African countries

Abstract

Aquaculture plays a vital role in enhancing food security in Africa but faces challenges in the fed aquaculture sector, particularly in accessing and producing high-quality aquafeeds. To address this, FAO organized the “Expert Workshop on Local Alternative Ingredients, Aquafeed Supply, and Feeding Management” in Egypt in 2023. Experts and stakeholders from nine African countries—Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia—participated, alongside representatives from governments, academia, development agencies, the private sector, and farming communities. Pre-workshop questionnaires informed national reports on feed ingredient supply, feed manufacturing, and feeding management practices. These reports, along with workshop discussions, form the basis of this technical document comprising nine country analyses and a regional synthesis. Common challenges identified include limited access to alternative feed ingredients, poor feed preparation and storage practices, inadequate monitoring of on-farm feeding, lack of investment for small-scale producers, low technical capacity among farmers, poor feed quality, and weak regulatory frameworks. The synthesis report recommends key actions: stabilizing feed ingredient supply and costs, promoting training for feed producers and farmers, improving on-farm feed and water quality management, enhancing data collection and analysis, expanding access to finance and storage facilities, and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders. These measures aim to build a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient aquaculture sector across the region.