PROJECT SUMMARY 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

Transforming the animal protein value chains (e.g., the fish farming value chain) is a top priority for the Ethiopian government, especially because the animal protein production sector remains underdeveloped and yet the top contributor of employment for a majority of the population and contributes significantly to the country’s GDPs. Most notably, Ethiopia stands out with high percentage contribution to employment and of GDP. Unfortunately, a plethora of challenges plague the animal protein value chains ranging from costly and scarce feed supply, lack of enterprise-ready hatchery facilities, traditional grow-out and harvesting methods to unmet storage / cold chain facilities. Despite fish farming has been a tradition in many parts of Ethiopia, there is no data being collected either manually or digitally; and hence no databases that contain historical information across the value chains. The unavailability of such data makes it difficult to answer questions such as “what is the total fish production, e.g., surrounding Arba Minch by formally established fishery groups?”, “how much fish and fish products being produced?”, “how much waste being generated?”, “how much of the generated waste being used for feed production?”, “what are the most performant / effective raw materials for feeding per fish type / breading?”, “how are these raw materials for feeding being collected and processed?”, which fish types / breeding performed well under different environmental/climate/conditions?”, “How much fish produced sold within Arba Minch and how much is exported out of Arba Minch?”, etc. Moreover, existing fish farming mainly rely on already “exhausted” water bodies. There is also limited or none-existence access to formal financing products due to lack of information and data, and a general mismatch between the offering of commercial loan products and animal protein financing needs and growth trajectory. Furthermore, the use of technology across the animal protein value chains does not exist. Therefore, this pilot project is proposed aiming the production of “one” tone fish by introducing fish production technology and validate product-market fit.  The goals are to identify fine-grained data points and evidence to (1) define metrics for sustainable feed supply (including sourcing raw materials, feed production, utilization, and formulation), hatchery (including types / breeding of fish for maximum protein content), and scale-out of the fattening / grow out technology (i.e., Biofloc technology), and (2) validate protein uptake by selected community (AMU staff and their families).