Fish is a source of high quality protein for most households across Cameroon. The low cost for fish products some years back attracted high demand in the local markets which encouraged several people to go into fish farming. But, as our reporter Aaron Yancho Kaah narrates below, several farmers are now leaving the once lucrative venture.
Over the years dug-out ponds have been the commonest and the most convenient enclosures for fish farming.
But the recent water scarcity in the country has put more than 50% of small scale fish farmers out of business and production. Many ponds have dried out as a result of the rising temperatures, poor land and water conservation methods.
The few who depended on pipeline irrigation systems to supply water to their ponds have also suffered a setback. The drop in the water level in these ponds as a result of the too much sunshine has also severely affected production.
This has subsequently led to poverty in several homesteads and unemployment. The price for fish has increased drastically in the local markets.
The average Cameroonian who depended on fish farming for survival has to turn to other ways of making ends meet.
With the climate changes and the seasonal uncertainties that have brought about this water scarcity, it is not very clear when these poor fish farmers will remain in this business for long.
