Smallholder fish farmers in Zambia face a myriad of challenges, but one of their biggest constraints is limited access to high-quality fish feed. While smallholders are integral to the country’s aquaculture sector and are largely responsible for feeding and nourishing its rural populations, supply chain gaps must be amended to ensure nutrient-rich fish reach those who need them most.
For instance, a census conducted in Northern and Luapula provinces revealed that only 16% of fish farmers used high-quality fish feed because the majority of farmers must travel long distances to reach feed outlets. However, the pervasive use of low-quality feed severely limits farm productivity. Therefore, there is a need to establish last-mile, decentralized businesses to fill in supply chain gaps and boost access to high-quality feed for smallholders.
These efforts fall under WorldFish’s Piloting Inclusive Business and Entrepreneurial Models project funded by GIZ, which is targeting marginalized smallholder fish farmers in Zambia and Malawi with increased accessibility to quality fish feed and fish seed to increase aquaculture productivity, providing a critical lifeline for a nutrient-rich food source and sustainable livelihoods.
Filling the supply chain gaps
To reach more smallholders, fish farming cooperatives and local agro-dealers were selected as entrepreneurs to pilot the last-mile business model. These small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) were responsible for distributing fish feed to smallholder farms in remote villages far from urban areas.
In April and November 2021, 12 and 18 tons of assorted fish feed, respectively, were distributed to these last-mile operations in northern Zambia, and the entrepreneurs then sold the feed to local fish farmers at market price.
A key component of the last-mile business models includes the feed entrepreneurs offering training to the fish farmers on best management practices, ensuring the SMEs are invested in the farmers’ success. Successful farmers mean more feed sales, leading to the success of both parties.
To support the entrepreneurs in operating their businesses profitably, sustainably and inclusively, the project has also established an elaborate business coaching and mentorship program. The entrepreneurs were trained and equipped with skills to develop their business plans and reach isolated farmers, with a particular emphasis on ensuring business strategies adopted by entrepreneurs were inclusive of women and youth.
Impacts of the last-mile business models
Within six months, 93% of the feed had been sold, with five of the businesses procuring additional feed. The businesses earned a total revenue of ZMW 262,948 (USD 15,355) and reached nearly 300 smallholders with feed and training. The revenue received from the feed was used to reinvest in the feed outlets and procure additional feed independently.
One of the project’s beneficiaries has been Mfune Mwendalubi, who now operates the sole fish feed shop in Zambia’s Mporokoso District. Mwendalubi has managed to sell all but two feed bags, earning ZMW 17,790 (USD 1,040) in revenue, which she hopes to use in re-stocking her feed shop. As the only fish feed retailer in the district, the farmers now buy from Mwendalubi’s shop instead of traveling to the provincial town in Kasama located 180 kilometers away.
Piloting the last-mile business models has ultimately allowed the SMEs to test the demand for commercial fish feed. The entrepreneurs have drawn important lessons related to feed expiration dates, supply chains, financial records and management, which will be useful as they run their businesses. However, there is still a need for increased private sector investment by feed manufacturers, the financial sector and other private sector players to tap into the growing demand for inputs for small-scale aquaculture operations, WorldFish said.
