Yalelo is a sustainable producer of tilapia fish in Zambia, implementing modern cage aquaculture on Lake Kariba.

Zambia Invests in Tilapia Farming

Zambia has experienced devastating over-fishing during the last decade. Tragically, fish is in chronic undersupply in Zambia and surrounding countries due to a long period of a depletion of natural stocks.

Tilapia fish was once caught locally in abundance, in turn creating thousands of jobs and providing an enhanced national diet, but now most fish in urban markets come from expensive frozen Chinese imports. Zambia’s growing population and wealth adds further pressure to the national “fish gap”. As a result, consumption has fallen from 12.1kg per capita in 1970 to 6.1kg per capita today and re-sellers often complain of not being able to source supply, regardless of price.

Yalelo is a pioneer of aquaculture in Zambia, bringing together local resources and world-leading practices.

Yalelo Limited was created as an environmentally sustainable solution to this problem. The pristine waters of Lake Kariba enables to produce Africa’s finest tilapia and Yalelo business depends on maintaining that environment. The company minimises its environmental footprint at every step through the active implementation of an Environmental Management Plan. Beyond any minimum requirements, Yalelo works with the people, organisations and government of Zambia to ensure the ongoing environmental health of the Lake Kariba region.

Yalelo implements a scalable solution to ease the pressure on Zambia’s struggling wild-capture fisheries sector.

Yalelo’s world-class, local management team are now setting new standards for sustainable aquaculture fish production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yalelo’s solution is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Implementing international best-practice, existing resources can be used efficiently without burdening local waterways or the wild fish stock.

Fish enjoy a diet based on local Zambian soy, maize and wheat 3-5 times per day to compliment the natural food supply.

In ponds on land Yalelo breeds adult fish to produce baby fish, called fingerlings. When the fingerlings grow to 5 grams they are taken to large floating pens in the open waters of the beautiful Lake Kariba. These pens are the largest in Africa, providing an open environment to swim far and deep against natural lake currents. The nets are 25 meters across and 6 meters deep, allowing the fish plenty of room to grow. The floating nets use the same design as salmon aquaculture from the Atlantic Ocean, minimising the risk of damage or escape.

Yalelo breeds and grows tilapia on the shores of Lake Kariba and sell its product fresh nationwide.

This environment produces a fish that is stronger and leaner, with a taste that customers have come to love over generations. Yalelo does not use antibiotics, chemicals or growth hormones. Fish enjoy a diet based on local Zambian soy, maize and wheat 3-5 times per day to compliment the natural food supply. They don’t eat mud, waste or algae that can be found at the bottom of fish ponds. After 5-6 months the fish have grown to 350 grams, at which point they are harvested, cleaned, placed on ice and transported to market in refrigerated trucks.

Pristine water, locally produced non-GMO fish feed and a robust cold-chain results in a product quality and affordability that is transforming the customer experience.

Last week Yalelo announced that it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Famsun Co. Ltd to supply a turn-key dedicated aquafeed mill in Zambia. The total project investment of USD 6.0 million is expected to create over 75 high quality new jobs.

Empowering communities and contributing to their long-term social, economic and infrastructural development is an investment in the company’s future and provides a solid foundation for future success.

About Yalelo Limited

Yalelo Limited is a pioneer of aquaculture in Zambia, bringing together local resources and world-leading practices. The company implements a scalable solution to ease the pressure on Zambia’s struggling wild-capture fisheries sector.

Founded in 2011, Yalelo has grown quickly to become the leading fisheries firm in Zambia and second largest aquaculture firm in Africa. The company breeds and grows tilapia on the shores of Lake Kariba and the products are sold fresh nation-wide. Pristine water, locally produced non-GMO fish feed and a robust cold-chain results in a product quality and affordability that is transforming the customer experience.

Yalelo is improving national food-security, making tilapia more affordable and improving community livelihoods.

Tilapia producer to invest USD 6 million in new feed plant

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Address:	Plot 6981 Mukwa Road, (Cnr. Lumumba Road) Light Industrial Area
City:	Lusaka
Country:	Zambia
Phone:	+260 211 24 6060
E-Mail:	[email protected]
More about:

Print