Call for Proposals: Business loans for the establishment of commercial fish hatcheries and commercial fish nurseries | WestMac Media

A commercial fish hatchery or a commercial fish nursery is a business that is specifically set up to produce and sell fingerlings. A hatchery hatches eggs and sells the baby fish (called “fry”) while a nursery gets fry from a hatchery and grows fingerlings to a certain weight before selling the fingerlings to fish farmers.  

The Government of the Republic of Zambia is, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock with support from the African Development Bank, implementing the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project whose objective is to contribute to economic growth as well as provide food and nutrition security in Zambia. The Project development objective is to advance the aquaculture sub-sector as a viable and inclusive business opportunity, through enhanced production and productivity, in order to improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries along the aquaculture value chain. 

The Department of Fisheries is the Implementing Agency for the Project while the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is its Implementing Partner of the Aquaculture Seed Fund of the Project. The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission is a body corporate established through the enactment of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006 to foster broad-based economic empowerment of targeted citizens and targeted companies. 

The Aquaculture Seed Fund seeks to support the development of the Aquaculture Value Chain in Zambia through the provision of business loans and business development services to target beneficiaries along the Value Chain. 

Aquaculture, particularly the farming of fish in ponds and cages is an important and promising industry in Zambia. The supply of good quality fingerlings is key to the development of aquaculture. The Aquaculture Seed Fund is therefore launching a Special Initiative for the development of fish hatcheries to help boost the Production of fingerlings in Zambia. 

In order to facilitate adequate supply of good quality fingerlings to fish farmers in the target districts of the Project, the Aquaculture Seed Fund is embarking on the provision of business loans specifically for establishment of commercial fish hatcheries and commercial fish nurseries in the following target districts of the Project. 

1. CENTRAL PROVINCE: Chitambo, Mkushi, Serenje 

2. COPPERBELT PROVINCE: Luanshya, Kitwe/Kalulushi , Ndola 

3. EASTERN PROVINCE: Chipata, Katete, Chadiza 

4. LUAPULA PROVINCE: Bangweulu(Samfya/Lunga), Nchelenge, Chiengi 

5. LUSAKA PROVINCE: Rufunsa, Chongwe , Kafue/Chilanga 

6. MUCHINGA PROVINCE: Chinsali, Shiwangandu, Isoka 

7. NORTHERN PROVINCE: Mungwi, Mpulungu, Kasama 

8. NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE: Kasempa, Solwezi, Mwinilunga, Zambezi 

9. SOUTHERN PROVINCE: Gwembe (Chipepo), Chirundu/Siavonga, Sinazongwe 

10. WESTERN PROVINCE: Mwandi, Sioma, Kaoma 

CEEC is therefore now inviting targeted citizens to apply for business loans to establish and profitably operate commercial fish hatcheries and/ or commercial fish nurseries in the listed target districts. The technology for a hatchery must be indoor hatchery with a capacity to produce a minimum of 1 million fingerlings of either: 

1) sex reversed at minimum of 95% for tilapia (Oreochromis spp) fingerlings or 

2) Catfish (Clarias gariepinus and C. ngamensis) fingerlings. The type of fingerlings to be produced in each province will be in line with the Fisheries Act No. 22 of 2011. 

All Applicants MUST use the CEEC Application Form specific for the Call for Applications to Establish Commercial Fish Hatcheries and Commercial Fish Nurseries. APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT USE THE STATED FORM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Application Forms may be obtained from the following points: 

1) All CEEC Provincial Offices; 

2) CEEC Head Office situated at Plot No. 6457 Los Angeles Boulevard, Long Acres, Lusaka; 

3) The CEEC Website (www.ceec.org.zm); and 

4) The ZAEDP Project Implementation Unit Office situated at No. 13 Reedbuck Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka 

Deadline and place for submission of proposals: The deadline for submission of proposals is Monday 10th September, 2018 at 12:00hrs. Completed business proposals must be submitted at the CEEC Office for the respective Province where the project will be implemented. 

In line with Government’s policy, the Commission prioritizes and encourages the participation of youths, women and the physically challenged.