The beneficiary population is experiencing moderate food insecurity, with 5% in acute crisis, particularly in Lugela. This situation is linked to the low and poorly diversified income of small-scale producers of fish, milk, and cash crops such as groundnuts and beans, who are often forced to abandon their activities, limiting access to sufficient and nutritious food in local markets. In inland districts, the absence of river fishing makes fresh fish difficult to obtain unless it is produced in ponds, while local milk is mainly sold through the informal market, with associated hygiene risks.

Low income primarily stems from limited production. Each fish farmer produces on average only 53 kg of fish per year (against a potential of 728 kg), and livestock farmers produce about 6 liters of milk per cow. Crop production is limited and often destined for subsistence, relying on traditional, low-sustainability practices with negative climate impacts. Initial investments, quality inputs, technical skills, and effective extension services are lacking.

Marketing processes further exacerbate the situation: fish and crops suffer post-harvest losses in both quantity and value, while the milk collection center operates well below capacity and requires improvements in hygiene, management, and the cold chain. Trust between producers and cooperatives is low, and limited management skills further reduce profitability.

By increasing and diversifying the income of small-scale producers, the project will, in the long term, have a positive effect on increasing local availability and, consequently, on reducing dependence on imports of fish, milk, and cash crops such as groundnuts and beans—sources of high-quality protein and nutrients that are essential for dietary diversification, health, and the development of both children and adults.

Higher income will enable beneficiary households to purchase a wider variety of foods in addition to those they produce themselves, further contributing to a more diversified diet. The integration of fish farming and forage production with agroforestry, together with the structuring of value chains, will make productive activities more sustainable by creating synergies among the different actors involved. Finally, income diversification will reduce households’ vulnerability to market and harvest fluctuations, strengthening resilience to economic and climatic shocks. This will contribute to improved food security in the target districts.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The project aims to ensure safe access to nutritious and diversified food in the six target districts by increasing the income and resilience of 270 small-scale producers of Tilapia nilotica and raw milk over a three-year period, with direct benefits for 760 individuals and 270 households. Two main results are expected:

1. Increased and diversified production through a circular approach based on agroforestry, which provides inputs for feed production and strengthens adaptation to climate change. Planned activities include the construction and rehabilitation of ponds, the supply of fingerlings, the establishment of agroforestry systems, support to hatcheries and feed mills, and technical training for producers, extension workers, and schools, while promoting producer associations and gender equality.

2. Improved post-production and marketing, including fish preservation, reduction of post-harvest losses, and strengthening of the dairy value chain through training on processing and management of the milk collection center, improvement of the cold chain, and development of entrepreneurial skills.

BENEFICIARIES

• 270 small-scale producers of fish, raw milk, and cash crops across 6 districts in 3 provinces

• 15 staff members from 3 hatcheries

• 330 students from 3 schools, including 7 scholarship recipients

• 23 district-level government extension officers

• 110 members of dairy cooperatives

• 5 staff members of the milk collection center