The Kawjo Foundation demonstration farm in M’bwatalika, Lilongwe District, will become an integrated aquaculture and agriculture training centre for youth and vulnerable Malawians. The farm was purchased in 2018, and within a few years, Kawjo had installed seven fishponds and planted bananas, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, peppers, guava, and more. This year, Kawjo looks forward to building a greenhouse over one of its ponds, thanks to a grant through World University Service Canada – Malawi Partners in Innovation Fund.
Greenhouse use for aquaculture is an innovation that Kawjo wants to share with farmers. Greenhouses make temperature management possible, which is increasingly important with climate change. With stable temperatures, fish can grow consistently and are not vulnerable to erratic fluctuations in temperature.
An aquaculture greenhouse also prevents water loss and contamination by keeping the system clean and free from contaminants. As natural light is employed for greenhouses, the energy costs are not too high. For example, during some seasons the fish need to stay out of direct sunlight to prevent algae growth and water heating, but this can be controlled in any greenhouse structure by covering the fish pond with a shade cloth.1
Another advantage is that a greenhouse protects the fragile fish from predators. The structure’s enclosed form ensures that birds and other types of animals cannot enter the pond, which prevents product loss.
Kawjo Foundation looks forward to testing and sharing this innovation, building knowledge and capacity within the aquaculture sector. For the 50 youth participants in the Smart Aqua program, they will be trained in greenhouse technology, which will support their resiliency to farm in a changing climate and improve their livelihoods.
