📋 Tender Overview
It is less than a month until Zambia meets the world for the second Aquaculture Africa Conference, which is taking place in Lusaka on 13-16 November.
Themed “Resilient value chains in the blue economy” AFRAQ23 is expected to bring together over 700 industry, academic, government, development partner delegates from Africa and across the world to connect and celebrate achievements in the aquaculture developmental journey, but also to find solutions to some of the challenges impacting the sustainability of the sector.
Aquaculture is seen as being increasingly important as a way to meet global demand for blue foods, and the continent’s vast inland waters and coastlines which are largely untapped and have great potential to contribute to the nutrition and socio-economic development needs of the region.
The conference scientific and technical programme, which is under finalisation, is packed with multi-sessions that resonate to the conference theme of “sustainability”, balancing global and African perspectives – thanks to the efforts as led by renowned programme chairs, Prof Peter Britz (Rhodes University, South Africa) and Prof Cyprian Katongo (University of Zambia).
Insights from Yalelo
The first keynote address “The evolution and development of aquaculture in Zambia – from an industry perspective” will feature Zambia’s aquaculture value chain development journey, into one of the top and fastest growing aquaculture producing countries in Africa today. The presentation will be delivered by Fisho Patrick Mwale, chairman of the Aquaculture Development Association of Zambia (ADAZ); an entrepreneur and investment adviser – who is also the co-founder and pioneer of Yalelo Ltd – currently the largest freshwater aquaculture venture in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa is currently experiencing massive investment in aquaculture that has led to the growth of the industry on various water bodies, but the effective development and implementation of aquatic animal health programmes is paramount to the sustainability of the sector. Dr Hang’ombe Bernard Mudenda, a renowned fish disease professional from the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Zambia will deliver a keynote speech on the subject matter, with special emphasis on recent developments in Africa. Dr Mudenda has over the years worked with FAO, WOAH, Africa Union and other partner organisations on elements of building capacity on aquatic animal health and biosecurity in Africa. The World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) and their associates in Africa will subsequently feature a number of technical sessions on aquatic animal health at AFRAQ23.
