- The project is located in Matabeleland South Province, Beitbridge District ward 14 in Large commercial farming area
- The water source is Zhovhe Dam which has generated a lot of agricultural activities that include fishing, citrus, cropping, livestock production as well as recreation
- The project is in line with the Rural Development 8.0 model running within the Ministry of Land Agricultural Fisheries Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD) aimed at uplifting rural livelihoods in all its forms, including food and nutrition security through an “agricultural development-rural industrialization- rural development -Vision 2030”
- One of the interventions is the Presidential Fisheries Program which target all villages business units, dams, ponds, schools business units, irrigation schemes and individual farmers
- The project requires massive stocking of fingerlings to meet the huge demand for fish seed
- Hence the project will support the Presidential fisheries program in supply of the much needed fingerlings
Zhove Breeding site
- The breeding site was established in September 2023 to increase supply of breeding stock in the province and southern region
- The project is a Partnership between Government (MLAFWRD) and Toppick Investment
- Target markets include local farmers, Matabeleland region, Masvingo and Midlands Province sold to communities at an affordable price for sustainability
- Four ponds were constructed for breeding (5×5 for breeding 2 and 6x7m brooding*2)
- Breeds in stock are Nile tilapia and Green head bream
- In November of 2023, fries were observed in the breeding ponds and collection started at an approximate number of 2000-3000 fingerlings per day
- The collected fingerlings were placed in the green house
- Project has the capacity to supply the whole of Matabeleland region and beyond
- The Bream breed is in high demand
- Fish is becoming the preferred cheap source of protein