Aubrain Lyavuka’s journey from farmworker to aquaculture entrepreneur began with a simple advertisement. While working as a labourer, he showed a growing interest in farming fish. His big break, however, came when he saw an advert for aquaculture training posted by Zambia’s Solwezi Department of Fisheries.
Eager to learn, Lyavuka attended the course offered through the Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA) programme, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in collaboration with the African Union Commission. The programme is designed to train African youth for jobs in agriculture, particularly in agribusiness and entrepreneurship development.
In Solwezi, the capital of Zambia’s North-Western province Lyavuka joined over 60 other young aspiring agripreneurs in an intensive training programme. The trainees received in-class learning complemented by hands-on experience, which included raising fingerlings in four fishponds, two of which they constructed themselves.
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The hands-on approach was pivotal for Lyavuka. He learned essential aspects of aquaculture, such as pond ecosystem management, fish health and nutrition, breeding techniques, and efficient water usage.
The programme also emphasised sustainable farming practices, ensuring environmental responsibility by teaching how to avoid pollution from the farm and ponds to nearby water bodies.
“The training provided insights into fish farming, including pond construction techniques, and we were equipped with essential resources like fingerlings and feed. This experience inspired me to establish my own farm. We discovered that fish farming is not just viable but also a profitable business venture,” said Lyavuka.
The comprehensive training left Lyavuka with a solid foundation in aquaculture. After completing the OYA training, he attended the 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. There, he met several agribusiness champions, participated in field visits to farms, and realised the potential for large-scale agriculture. Inspired, he returned home determined to start his own mixed farm.
With the technical and business management skills he had acquired, Lyavuka began to apply his knowledge. Using profits from his vegetable sales, he bought land in Ndola, Copperbelt province, and started building his fish farming enterprise.
From seven to nine ponds
In just a few months, he established seven fishponds. Today, Lyavuka has nine ponds, where he farms tilapia with the help of two employees. Each pond produces up to 400 kilograms of fish twice a year. Alongside fish, he also grows chili, maize, and okra on his farm.
However, the journey was not without its challenges. Lyavuka faced water scarcity and predators such as birds and monitor lizards. Like other young entrepreneurs in Zambia, he also dealt with financial challenges, including high interest rates, limited access to capital, and the cost of feed.
Despite these hurdles, he strategically reinvested his profits and expanded his business sustainably by constructing the ponds in phases. This strategic growth was partly thanks to the continuous mentorship and coaching he received from the Solwezi Department of Fisheries post-training.https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/donkeys-to-phd-studies-demians-path-in-agricultural-engineering/
By focusing on practical skills, market access, financial management, and networking, the OYA Programme offers a comprehensive approach to building successful enterprises. The programme’s success with Lyavuka has set the stage for expanding its training activities across Zambia.
Looking ahead, Lyavuka’s immediate goal is to expand to 12 ponds to ensure monthly harvests throughout the year. But his ambition doesn’t stop there.
“I aim to mechanise the farm and establish a fish hatchery, ensuring the growth and sustainability of my business,” he said.
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