Freshwater, Fish and the Future: Proceedings of the Global Cross-Sectoral Conference

Improving Rural Livelihoods through a Sustainable Integrated Fish: Crop Production in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Jacky Phosa

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9789251092637.ch21

Abstract .—More than 70% of Limpopo Province’s inhabitants reside in rural areas where high rates of poverty and malnutrition prevail. The province has constructed 171 irrigation dams for water storage. These freshwater resources were only used as water storage for irrigation instead of multipurpose uses such as fish production, recreation, and drinking water to address socioeconomic challenges.

The objective of the study was to develop a sustainable integrated fish-crop production system to address food insecurity, create jobs, reduce poverty, and generate income.

The study was conducted in 2012 with the rehabilitation of a deserted water storage dam with a total surface area of 6,000 m². The dam reservoir was divided into four fish ponds. Fish were stocked into these ponds with the result that carp averaged 1.2 kg, tilapia 0.5 kg, and catfish 1.5 kg after a period of 4 months

The production system yielded about 55 metric tons of fish per annum worth US$4,396.24 and created 110 temporary and 48 permanent jobs.