PROJECT TOGO PLUS · PROMOTING LOCAL FISH FARMING
The fish farming of PROJECT TOGO is being built up step by step: with trained staff, suitable fish species, reliable feed, water, sales and the experience gained from each production cycle.
Companies can support this development for a specific purpose. The contribution flows into local fish farming and is based on the next agreed local need.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
PROJECT TOGO is the overall project. Fish farming is a specific area within the project.
It is designed to connect local food production, jobs and practical knowledge. To achieve this, a facility with several fish tanks was set up near the existing project infrastructure. The first fish have already been successfully sold on regional markets.
The plant is still under development. It is not only intended to work, but also to be operated, maintained and economically sustained over several production cycles.
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BUILT
Around eight fishponds of various sizes have currently been constructed on part of a firebreak. The facility is located close to the existing project infrastructure.
The technical management is undertaken by an employee who previously completed a six-month practical training course at a larger fish farm in Benin. Five additional employees from the surrounding villages are supporting him in the setup and ongoing operations.
As a result, six jobs have already been created. Experience gained from operations should not remain in one place, but should flow back into the surrounding villages.
8 fish tanks
02
6 employees
from the surrounding villages
Training in Benin
six months of practical specialist training
first fish have already been sold
Local sales
on regional markets
WHAT IS BEING TESTED NOW
Over several cycles, it must be shown which processes work reliably under local conditions. The experiences are documented and used for the next steps.
01
Coordinate requirements together
The specific needs will be coordinated together with the NGO ecoCent Togo and the participating village communities.
02
Stocking to harvest
Stocking, feeding, growth, animal health and harvesting are considered together.
03
Water and costs
Water consumption, losses and running costs show when sales revenues can support the business.
01
Fish species and demand
Which species can be reliably reared and what quantities are in demand on regional markets.
02
Stocking to harvest
Stocking, feeding, growth, animal health and harvesting are considered together.
03
Water and costs
Water consumption, losses and running costs show when sales revenues can support the business.
USE WATER LONGER
High temperatures, strong sunlight, as well as food residues and excrement have, until now, made frequent water changes necessary.
Nets protect individual basins from direct sunlight and help to limit excessive algae growth. The nutrient-rich water from the basins is directed through a drainage channel to lower-lying vegetable plots, which are being created step by step. There, it can contribute to irrigation and nutrient supply.
PROJECT TOGO is additionally testing whether biological filtration can make the water usable for longer. The decisive factor is not a technically perfect solution, but a system that is understood locally, can be maintained, and for which spare parts are available.
Engagement
A customer engagement opens up the opportunity to prepare the next development step together with PROJECT TOGO.
The focus is on investments that improve productivity, planning security and the further use of water.
A contribution does not only finance an acquisition. It can also include training, operation, maintenance and necessary replacement investments.
FEED IS PART OF THE FARM
Suitable fish feed is not always reliably available in Togo. For this reason, we are investigating whether a proprietary, controllable feed can be developed from available ingredients.
This requires practical trials: recipes, nutritional content, costs, fish health and growth must be compared with each other over several production cycles.
Sales revenues are later intended to cover a growing portion of ongoing expenses – such as for feed, new stock, water technology, repairs, and reserves for the next cycle.