On the shores of Limbé in south-western Cameroon, fish farmer Fanta Njifondjou Oumarou is rethinking her future. For years, raising fish was a struggle, with slow growth and high losses cutting into her income. Today, thanks to a new strain of African catfish introduced under the Livestock and Fish Farming Value Chain Development Project (PD-CVEP), her ponds are thriving.
“I feel better equipped to make a profit from fish farming,” she says, beaming with optimism.
The project, backed by an €84 million African Development Bank investment, is transforming aquaculture across Cameroon. The secret lies in a new catfish strain that grows to harvest size in just five to six months, boasts an 80–85% survival rate, and produces up to 20,000 fry per female each cycle.
In just under a year, pilot hatcheries have sold more than 115,000 fry, offering young farmers and women like Fanta a sustainable path to income. Over 280 fish farmers have also been trained, not just in fish breeding but in everything from feed management to business skills — creating a new generation of aquaculture entrepreneurs.
The results are visible in markets too. In Douala, grilled-fish seller Moukoudi Mbappé Dolie says her sales have soared. “The flesh stays firm after grilling, with less fat. Customers love the flavour, and my income has increased significantly,” she explains.
Beyond the ponds and the kitchens, the project is upgrading local markets with hygienic counters, running water, and access to ice — changes that fish vendor Marthe Epoko believes will restore dignity to their trade. “Working in better conditions isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity,” she says.
By 2027, the initiative aims to add 10,000 tonnes of fish annually to Cameroon’s food supply, cutting dependence on imports and boosting national food security.
As Victor Viban Banah of the Ministry of Livestock notes, “This project is crucial for the future of our aquaculture sector.”
For farmers, traders, and consumers alike, it is more than a development project — it is a lifeline of hope, opportunity, and growth.
