The Kaffrine region continues to strengthen its position in the development of aquaculture in Senegal. This weekend, the largest fish farm in the region, located in Minawara, in the commune of Diamagadio, carried out a significant fish harvest, illustrating the growing dynamism of the sector.

Present at the event, Awa Kandé, head of the Kaffrine Regional Service of the National Aquaculture Agency (ANA), made no secret of her satisfaction. "I am very pleased to witness this harvest from the largest fish farm in the Kaffrine region, located in Minawara. As you can see, fish farming is beginning to become a reality in Kaffrine. The developers are investing significant resources, and they are also supported by financial and technical partners like us."

However, she points out that the sector, still in its infancy, requires more support: “Since it’s a new practice, it demands a lot of support from the authorities. In Kaffrine, there is space and initiatives to develop aquaculture. However, essential infrastructure is lacking, such as a fish hatchery for fry and a fish feed manufacturing plant. Even though we have stocks, there are sometimes shortages, which negatively impacts production.”

A model integrated farm supported by a local investor

The Minawara initiative is spearheaded by Cheikh Tidiane Cissé, the fish farm's promoter. After several years abroad, he decided to return and invest in his home region. He explains: “I always had the idea of investing in my community. That's why, since 2020, I've been living here in Minawara. We have a 15-hectare integrated farm. Today, we harvest fish, but we also grow crops, raise poultry, and cultivate fruit trees. What we do is not only a passion, but also a way to show young people that there are opportunities, while encouraging them to invest in agriculture.”

The farm creates a variety of seasonal, temporary, and daily jobs, as part of a deliberate strategy to combat rural exodus and irregular immigration. Technically, the farm has 14 fish ponds. On this harvest day, Cheikh Tidiane Cissé details the figures: “Today we are harvesting a partial crop of 1,050 tilapia with an average weight of 250 g, and 131 catfish with an average weight of 700 g, for a total biomass of 92 kg. We can say that we have a harvest of 355 kg, but the harvest is still ongoing.”

Towards local self-sufficiency in fish food?

Aware of the sector's challenges, the developer aims to go further: "We plan to set up a feed mill, using our own grain, to provide supplies for other developers. Even though the government and partners are making remarkable efforts, we are requesting even more support to develop aquaculture in the Kaffrine region, which lacks a sea to provide fresh fish. We are very far along in establishing this mill."

A rapidly growing sector thanks to private initiatives and technical support

This harvest day in Minawara illustrates the growth of aquaculture in the Kaffrine region. Driven by ambitious private initiatives and supported by the ANA regional service and its financial and technical partners, the aquaculture sector is demonstrating its economic, social and environmental potential.

Kaffrine is thus establishing itself as an emerging hub for fish production in Senegal.