ABIDJAN / Ivory Coast, 8 September 2025: In Cameroon’s coastal and south-western regions, fish ponds are emerging as engines of rural transformation. A major initiative, the Livestock and Fish Farming Value Chain Development Project (PD-CVEP), financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with €84 million, is reshaping aquaculture and raising living standards for farmers, particularly women and youth.
At the heart of this transformation is a new strain of African catfish (clarias) developed by the Agricultural Research Institute for Development. Faster-growing, low in fat and more resilient than earlier varieties, the strain has improved survival rates to 80–85% and allows each female to produce up to 20,000 fry per cycle. Since October 2024, hatcheries have produced and sold over 115,000 fry under the Project’s pre-extension phase.
More than 280 fish farmers have been trained in hatchery management, floating cage farming, feed production, and aquaculture business practices. The Project’s strategic target is to increase national fish production by 10,000 tons annually by 2027, reducing dependence on imports and improving food security.
Beneficiaries say the impact is tangible. “We have real motivation to continue what we’ve started. I feel better equipped to make a profit from fish farming,” said Fanta Njifondjou Oumarou, a woman fish farmer from Limbé. In Douala, market vendors report higher demand for the improved catfish, citing its firmer texture and better flavour.
The programme also addresses market infrastructure, with plans to install hygienic counters, ice storage and water access in Douala’s fish markets. Regional supply hubs are being developed in Bamenda, Yaoundé and Foumban to strengthen the distribution of quality fry.
Officials say the project is more than technical support — it is building an ecosystem of innovation, training, and resilience in Cameroon’s aquaculture sector. “This project is crucial for the future of our fish farming industry,” said Victor Viban Banah, regional delegate of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries.
