Tilapia Value Chain Development: Unlocking Economy and Employment Potential in Nepal's Aquaculture

Abstract

Nepal’s aquaculture sector, historically dominated by low‑input carp farming, is undergoing transformation through the development of a specialized tilapia value chain. With rising national demand for fish, limited domestic supply, and increasing youth migration, tilapia presents a high‑potential species for commercialization and employment generation. The establishment of a state‑of‑the‑art monosex tilapia hatchery at CAARP marks a major step toward improving seed quality, expanding production, and diversifying livelihoods. CAARP’s strategy includes upgrading hatcheries into a Tilapia Broodstock Center, creating farmer clusters, developing franchise hatcheries, and promoting modern technologies to address misconceptions and improve profitability. By strengthening seed systems, training farmers, and building market and service networks—including nurseries, LSPs, processors, and cold storage—the initiative aims to create a fully integrated value chain. This approach positions tilapia aquaculture as a scalable solution to boost income, reduce fish imports, address malnutrition, and enhance rural economic development in Nepal.