An increasing number of Zimbabweans are venturing into tilapia fish farming business. Fish farming business is a very profitable business to operate in Zimbabwe. The demand for fish is increasing. People want to try a different type of meat which is not chicken, beef or pork. Tilapia fish is commonly known as “Bream” and this is the most consumed type of fish in Zimbabwe, followed by the Trout.
Before you start the tilapia fish farming business, you have to decide how many fish you want to keep, where you are going keep them, and your target market. The number of fish you keep will depend on the amount of land and capital you have, and also the size of your target market. You should always carry out a feasibility study, market research and write a business plan before you venture into any business. Do not make the mistake of starting thw aquaculture business or any other business just because someone is doing it and he/she says it’s profitable. This article will explain how to start a tilapia fish farming business in Zimbabwe, and the tilapia fish farming business plan.
What you need
Land, Ponds And Equipment
You require land for tilapia fish farming. A large enough area must be available for construction of the necessary ponds. When you are evaluating and selecting sites for your fishponds, you should take into consideration some physical factors which include the land area, the water supply, and the soil type.
To be successful in fish farming, you must properly design your ponds and pond systems. If your ponds are not properly designed, you will have several problems which include ponds that cannot hold water; ponds that cannot be drained completely (which leads to incomplete harvests thus poor production in future production cycles), ponds that break up etc. You should take several factors into consideration before constructing your pond, which include: source of the water which will be used to fill the pond; type of soil available for constructing the fish pond; size, shape, and depth of the pond. Your fish pond should be drainable, and should have a controlled inlet and outlet. Swimming pools can also be converted into fish ponds, and this is what some fish farmers in urban areas are doing.
There is need for a good water supply at your fish farm. It is advisable to use borehole water for the fish pond as it is safer for the fish as compared to the Zimbabwe tap water. You may also require pond heaters for maintaining the right temperature during the winter, pond filters for filtering the pond water, fishing nets for harvesting the fish, and a refrigerator for storing the harvested fish.
Fingerlings
It’s easier to start fish farming for meat production using fingerlings. Fingerlings refers to fish that has reached the stage where the fins can be extended and where scales have started developing throughout the body. In this stage, the fish is typically about the size of a finger. There are many fingerlings suppliers in Zimbabwe. You can either start with males-only fingerlings or mixed-sex fingerlings. Males-only fingerlings are used if you are keeping fish for the sole purpose of meat production. Mixed-sex fingerlings are used if you want also to breed fish, i.e. the fish will be mating and producing eggs which you can raise to full grown fish, or you can raise to the fingerling stage and sell the fingerlings. Purchase your fingerlings from fish farmers who have a good reputation in the fish farming business. The quality of the fingerlings will have an impact on the growth potential of your fish and the success of your business.
Feed for the Fish
You require feed for your fish to grow healthy. Fish feed can be in the form of crumble or pellets. Commercial fish feeds are now available in Zimbabwe. However, to increase your profitability you should reduce the cost of feed. This is done by supplementing the commercial fish feed by manure or fertilizers. Fertilizers/Manure is used in ponds to increase the production of the natural food organisms to be eaten by the fish. These organisms include zooplankton, phytoplankton, and insects. Fertilizers/Manure increase the availability of major nutrients, thus promoting the development of planktonic algae, which provide food for the fish. The popular type of manure used by Fish farmers in Zimbabwe is chicken and piggery manure.
Capital for Tilapia Fish Farming Business
You will need money for constructing the ponds, buying the fingerlings, buying the feeds e.t.c. So the scale of your tilapia fish farming project will also depend on the amount of capital you have. That is why it is essential for you to have a tilapia fish farming business plan before you venture into the fish farming business, so that you know all the costs involved and you make an informed decision. The capital you need will depend on the scale of your fish farming business.
Market for Fish
The demand for fish is high in Zimbabwe. The annual demand for fish in Zimbabwe is estimated to be 40 000 tonnes per annum. The most consumed fish species in Zimbabwe is the tilapia, followed by the trout. Fish is a low-fat high quality protein. Fish is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, its rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. Fish tastes good and many people love it. You can supply your fish to individuals, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and butcheries.
Pre-Written Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Bank Loan Version, Automated Excel Financial Statements
For an in-depth analysis of the tilapia fish farming business in Zimbabwe, purchase our fish farming business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many Zimbabweans were venturing into the fish production business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.
Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a tilapia fish farming business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the tilapia fish farming business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the fish farming business. The business plan is designed uniquely for the Zimbabwean market.
Uses of the Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)
The fish farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:
- Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
- Applying for a bank loan
- Start-up guide to launch your tilapia farming business
- As a fish farming project proposal
- Assessing profitability of the tilapia fish business
- Finding a business partner
- Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
- Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation
Contents of the Fish Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)
The business plan includes, but not limited to:
- Market Analysis
- Industry Analysis
- Automated Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, loan repayment calculations, start-up costs)
- Marketing Strategy
- Risk Analysis
- SWOT & PEST Analysis
- Operational Requirements (e.g. Pond designing, feed required e.t.c.)
- Management of Fish
- Operational Strategy
- Why some Zimbabweans in tilapia fish farming business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
- Ways to raise capital to start your fish farming business in Zimbabwe
The tilapia fish production business plan includes technical aspects of how to keep and to take care of the fish. It also includes a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running your fish farming business. E.g. We will provide the contact details of the companies that produce feeds, fingerlings e.t.c.
The Pre-written Tilapia Fish farming business plan package consist of 4 files
- Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 90 pages)
- Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 90 pages)
- Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan Bank Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 38 pages)
- Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)
The business plan financials are in USD currency.
The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg number of ponds, fish price per KG etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.
Get the Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)
We decided to make them affordable for anyone who would want a business plan, and the price for pre-written business plans is only US$10 for soft copies.
You can purchase via Paynow (Ecocash/Innbucks/One Money/MasterCard/Visa Card) or via Paypal. You just click Buy Now (scroll down) and you will then be taken to payment website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements) to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.
You can also purchase soft copies at our offices in Harare. Visit StartupBiz Zimbabwe, Suite 201, 2nd Floor, Morgan House, George Silundika Avenue (between 1st Street & 2nd Street), Harare . The cost of the business plan is US$10 (soft copies).
For any questions, other payment options, email us on shop@startupbiz.co.zw , call/whatsapp us on +263778798072 (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072) .
Tilapia Fish Farming Business Plan
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I am really in starting fish business big time.
i want to begin fish farming inbox for assisting me +919988512090 whatsapp l have questions thank you
where can i get fish for breeding if u may know
Aquaculture distributors contact me on 0783004210
Good day
Would like to start fish farming please advise how much capital I needed excluding land.
Good day Blessing. All the information you need is in the business plan. Get in touch and secure your copy.
Aquaculture distributors contact me on 0783004210
Thanks for this valuable information. Have started fish farming,hoping to go commercial
How was the project is it viable coz i’m thinking to start it
will be in touch
want bouts to start gillnetting business
Hw much money is needed to construct a pond
Call bream solutions on 0773 537 935
I do fish ponds call me on 263773441078
I want to know where to get the fish to start and how much. Also the feed.
l also need help like you
Thanks for such valuable information. Am in commercial fish farming based in rusape. Am just before Rusape river along harare- mutare highway.
chadiwal@gmail.com
can you inbox my whatsapp l need help on how to do fish farming +919988512090
In need of how much budget do I need to start a successfully fish farming I’m in Marondera ie pond construction,fingerlings,feeds and market.
Please call or what’s app. Enesokos Enterprises on 0771645107 for more information on aquaculture. We offer solutions in fish farming from educating and giving you a practical guide to fish farming, pond design and digging, pond lining, joining and installation and provision of Nile Tilapia breeding stock! All at reasonable prices. As for a complete job excluding cost of breeding stock, one needs an average of USD$2.50 per cubic meter (This cost includes pond design digging, pond lining and installation).
Am interested
call me on 263773441078
wat z the ratio of tilapia fish to volume of water
I asked the same question at dept of fisheries.I understand that the correct stocking density is 5 to 10 fish per cubic meter of water
Food grade tilapia that weighs an average of 350grams needs about 5ltrs of water. For a 3cm fingerling size, it need a about 2 litres of water. NB Some scholars prefer to give stocking density per square metre. But I find that what works well is stocking density per volume of water.
Thank you for the info
Where can i get fish training in Bulawayo?and may i know the metres needed for pond construction especially depth.Iam in 1acre stands
Enesokos Enterpises offers fish farming training. The smallest pond can be 5m by 3m by 1.4 m. A standard pond is 10m by 20m by 1.4m (As it has been scientifically proven that sunlight penetrates water to 1.4m).
Thanks . i need the basic training on the business. I kmow this can change lifr. Where can i find you
Lucky supply more details for the dish farming start up I have a pool that I would like to convert into a fiah pond
Are you still interested
in fish farming, Call us on 0778840932/0779812900 or Email us on info@agrimarinesolutions.com
Where can i get breams in harare
It’s very possible to convert a swimming pool in to a fish pond. All you need is the knowledge on how to manage it well and keep it clean and safe for the fish to grow.
Breams for the table or for raising. For consumption or breeding stock??
anyone interested in joint venture fish frming business in chinhoyi big dam contact me on 0771113998 sms
Can you do the fish farming in a small dam as big as 100m×200m with about 2mtr deep? Jus a normal dam not a pond is it possible?
Good Day , we sell fingerlings , fish feed and medication .If you are still into fish farming.If you are still interested please call us on 0778840932 or 0779812900 or email on info@agrimarine.com
How much for fingerlings each in usd
I’m interested
Quite useful thank you
i have an assignment in my module but I don’t have enough money to buy it , so can I have access to use it please?
anyone who is into fish farming kindly contact me on 0718470912 whatsapp.
Anyone interested in fish farming quickly contact me on 0783004210, am from Aquaculture the biggest fish farming company in Zimbabwe since 2015
Hie I want to start fish farming but still based in South Africa, so looking to come back home in Zim. My question is what other equipment,pumps, nets etc(want to go into ponds)can l start to buy whilst in S.A to givey vision a head start?Once home Zim l will get in touch witj you.
Looking forward to hear from you.
With kind regards
Chenjerai
Hie ,l am in South Africa fr nw but planning to go back home in Zim, my question is cam send prices of size pond you build witj prices so I can estimate how may l need? How many ponds do l need from baby ,fingers and and harvest say a full circle ?
Hoping to hear from you asap
With kind regards
Chenjerai
Thanks for the infor.Do you have Bakery business plan?Bread, biscuits, cookies etc
Hello fish farmers hope all is well. We are currently in the fish breeding season. Hove dzirikukura here?