The Tilapia Project: June 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010

$1000 donated by Today's Vision of Tyler, Texas!

Dr. Rudd hosted a trunk sale at Today's Vision of Tyler, Texas, benefiting the Tilapia Project last Saturday.

Today's Vision trunk show in progress.

Dr. Rudd pictured above in full Tilapia Project regalia :)

Many thanks to Dr. Rudd and all the Today's Vision employees for their support and hard work. Their donation of $1000 is roughly enough to get a new Tilapia Project going. We met lots of great people, and even made some connections for future projects. God has greatly blessed this project through Today's Vision!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Today's Vision hosting the Tilapia Project this weekend.

Our friend Dr. Neshia Rudd of Today's Vision, Tyler Texas, is hosting a fish themed trunk sale June 19th. Dr. Rudd has been kind enough to sponser the Tilapia Project with a percentage of the proceeds. We will be at Today's Vision from 9 am to 2 pm tomorrow. Come out and see what Today's Vision has to offer!

Tilapia found for the Dominican Republic Project

After over a month of phone calls and internet searching, we have located a local source for fish in the Dominican Republic! Now we will put our missionary project manager in the DR, Richard James, in touch with the hatchery in nearby Nagua. This project is run by Food For the Poor. Our contact there will not only sell us fingerling tilapia, but will also be a great resource as Richard begins growing fish. Progress in the Caribbean is slow, but we're getting there!

First Harvest at Kisima Academy, Kenya.

Kisima Academy Tilapia Project had their first harvest in June 2010. In the photo above you can see them working the nets through one of the ponds. These fish were first introduced as fingerlings (about 2 to 3 inches) in the fall of 2009. The tilapia reproduced before the harvest, leaving many small fish in the ponds to grow up for the next harvest.

The children of Kisima are seen above enjoying a meal of tilapia and ugali (maize flour). The excess fish were sold to local villagers, raising almost $200 for the orphanage. Martin already has plans to expand the Kisima Tilapia Project. He has purchased another acre of land and plans to build more ponds in the future. Great work Kisima! Praise God!

Thoughts on Growing Tilapia for Food

Keep it as simple as possible. Let the fish do what they do best (grow and reproduce) so you can do what you do best.

Yes, it is about growing food for people in need, but it has to be about more than that. God is the reason we want to feed people. Give him the credit and the glory.

“If we only feed hungry people, they will still die someday without knowing that it was God who fed them.” (Todd Hinkey) Let them know that this project came from God for them.

Find the right person to oversee the project on the ground. God will provide this person. Wait for His choice.Set the project up to provide a job to as many as possible. The project will need help with the harvest, feeding, pond maintenance, nets to be made, security, distribution, etc. You can use shares of harvested fish to pay these employees at first, then money as it grows. One day of labor = one day of food

Set the project up to multiply itself. We don’t want to create a fish baron in any community. Get the project manager to agree to tithe from his harvest. He should find the next Tilapia Project and give those fish to get them started. In this way the project will grow and keep growing.

Maintaining Your Fish and Ponds

Thinning

Population thinning may be necessary in order to prevent stunting. Populations may be reduced by as much as half (2000 lbs/acre stocking rate) in order to ensure continued growth of fish. Any fish removed from a pond will be dried, ground, and recycled into their original ponds as feed.

Reproduction

It will be necessary for fish to reproduce before harvesting in order to maintain the fish culture for successive generations. Once fry (newly hatched fish) are observed at a rate of 4000 lbs/acre, adult fish may be removed from the pond by seining. If over-population is indicated, thinning of the fry or fingerlings may take place as necessary. Optimally all fry or fingerlings will be approximately the same size to begin successive cultures.

Harvest

Once fish have attained an average target weight of 0.75 lbs and reproduction has occurred at the necessary rate, harvest can begin. Harvested fish should be promptly consumed, or preserved using culturally appropriate methods for sale or distribution.

Site Evaluation Questions

The following questions should be answered in the process of evaluating the feasibility of tilapia culture at a new site:

Pond size, depth, and age? (used to determine stocking rates)

Sufficient water supply or watershed?

Water temperature range? (highs and lows)

Presence of other species in pond? (list known species, used to determine possible predation risks)

Availability of tilapia for stocking? (list sizes and prices if known)

Availability of equipment necessary for culture? (see equipment list)

Availability of supplemental feed if indicated for more intensive culture? (list prices)

Proximity to market or need?

Equipment Requirements

This list can be used to help you form a budget for your Tilapia Project:

number of ponds and dimensions (no larger than can be easily seined)?

Price to construct per pond?
Labor
Equipment
Flowing water source (piping?)

transportation costs?
tilapia
large seine, 2 to 3 inch mesh, length and depth appropriate for ponds
small seine, ¼ inch mesh, length and depth appropriate for ponds
dip nets
large coolers to transport live fish and/or harvested fish
fish food
fencing materials (if necessary)
harvest and fish prep supplies

knives