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With support from the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), AquaLink Services, a leading Malawian aquaculture company, has fabricated the first-ever high-capacity fish cage for Likoma Agri-Enterprise. This groundbreaking initiative, coordinated by Mzuzu University, marks a significant milestone in introducing modern aquaculture technologies to Likoma Island. It aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and enhance food security in Malawi.

Likoma Island, located in the heart of Lake Malawi, is a remote area accessible only by water or air transport. Despite its rich natural environment for cage aquaculture, the island has faced numerous challenges over the years, including limited dambo areas, a lack of perennial water sources for pond-based aquaculture, and logistical difficulties for cage investors. These challenges have hindered the development of aquaculture on the island. However, Likoma Agri-Enterprise, a female-dominated cooperative (comprising 16 women and 14 men) established in 2022, has achieved a breakthrough.

Figure 1: Likoma Agri-Enterprise‘s cage fabricated and installed by AquaLink

With an investment grant from NCST and the technical expertise of AquaLink Services, the cooperative has introduced the island’s first aquaculture initiative using a state-of-the-art, large circular galvanized fish cage. This milestone is a historic moment for Malawian aquaculture and a testament to the potential for innovation to overcome geographical and infrastructural barriers.

The newly fabricated cage, measuring 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters in depth, boasts an estimated production capacity of over 10,000 kilograms of fish per cycle. This innovation elevates the efficiency of fish farming on Likoma Island, meeting local consumption demands while creating opportunities for commercial ventures. The cage’s design incorporates a galvanized steel frame and polyethylene netting for durability and predator protection while minimizing environmental impact. Eco-friendly buoyancy materials ensure stability even in the dynamic conditions of Lake Malawi.

Figure 2: AquaLink fabricating a cage at Likoma Island

This project represents a transformative opportunity for the cooperative and the broader Likoma community. The introduction of modern fish farming infrastructure enables controlled and efficient aquaculture practices, which are expected to bolster food security, create jobs, and improve household incomes. The increased production capacity also alleviates pressure on natural fish stocks, contributing to the preservation of Lake Malawi’s biodiversity. Furthermore, the cooperative is now well-positioned to supply both local and regional fish markets, establishing a scalable and sustainable business model.

The initiative underscores the critical role of partnerships in driving meaningful development. Mzuzu University has demonstrated its commitment to practical solutions for sustainable livelihoods, while AquaLink Services has solidified its reputation as a leader in innovative aquaculture technologies. Together, they have set a benchmark for scaling similar interventions across Malawi, providing a blueprint for how modern technologies can uplift communities and strengthen food systems.

For AquaLink Services, the fabrication of this fish cage is a significant achievement that reflects the company’s dedication to advancing sustainable aquaculture in Malawi. By introducing modern fish farming technology to Likoma Island, AquaLink has not only enhanced the capacity of the cooperative but also laid the groundwork for long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits. As the cooperative begins to harness the full potential of this innovation, the project’s success stands as a testament to the transformative power of strategic interventions and community-focused solutions.

Diversity in business is essential at minimizing investment risks. It disperses the risk and helps in maintaining, expanding, and exploring growth potential of emerging firms. AquaLink has explored diversification to incorporate banana and sweet potato planting at its farm in Zomba to retain its growth potential. The company is growing bananas and sweet potatoes on portion of the farm’s unused land that surrounds fish ponds. AquaLink established a fish farm including a hatchery and grow-out facility in Zomba in 2022. The farm has since its opening supplied over 70,000 fingerlings to grow-out farmers throughout the country.

The diversity in banana and sweet potato production aims to service local markets located within the vicinity of the farm. AquaLink observed supply deficits for bananas and sweet potatoes in local markets, yet the demand remains high. The demand for bananas in peri-urban and rural markets is unmet largely due to inefficiencies in the supply chain. Of notice is the limited in-country production; for a longtime, Malawi has been complementing banana supplies through importation from Mozambique and Tanzania. This in turn affects the availability of bananas in local markets. The undersupplies are also a product of the distance required to transport the fruit across international borders. Traders take long distances to transport bananas to desired markets.

To improve availability of bananas, AquaLink has invested in production of the commodity. The rationale is to enhance accessibility of bananas in local markets located in proximity to AquaLink farms. The company has thus far planted 200 suckers as a matter of startup. The plan is to plant more later in the year whilst waiting for harvesting of the planted batch. AquaLink is geared to utilize Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to promote production of Bananas and sweet potatoes.

AquaLink strives to enhance production and accessibility of nutritious products in Malawi. The company employs a market driven approach in its investment endeavors. Production of fish, bananas and sweet potatoes has strong potential not to only improve revenues for the company but also address malnutrition challenges in Malawi.

AquaLink wishes to notify the public about the opening of our Offices and a Shop. The company has established a place in Lilongwe in Area 36 opposite Lilongwe University of Natural Resources and Agriculture (LUANAR) city campus where both an office and outlet shop has been set up. The core purpose for this development is to ease accessibility to our services and products. It remains our aim to close the long-standing gap of unavailability of key aquaculture inputs in Malawi. This office and shop will certainly play a pivotal role in enhancing accessibility and reachability to our services and equipment.

AquaLink employs artisans to produce a range of aquaculture equipment using locally available materials in addition to supplying internationally manufactured inputs such as feed, cages, water test kits, pond liners and many more. Our capacity to deliver is not limited to geographical barriers; the company has a proven track record of producing, importing and delivering aquaculture equipment to individual farmers, NGOs and the government. AquaLink also provides a wide range of technical aquaculture consultation services.

The Office and shop will both service existing and upcoming customers. Opening hours will run from 8:00AM to 4:30PM on Mondays to Friday whilst on Saturdays the opening hours will be limited to mid-day – 12 O’clock. AquaLink is encouraging all individuals, companies and NGOs who are interested in fish farming to visit us. Window shopping is also permittable.

If you are looking for any aquaculture equipment and inputs, please reach out and you will never be disappointed. Our team will welcome you and handle your needs beyond your expectation. AquaLink grantees quality service and products. Our pride lies in customer’s satisfaction.

The following products are readily available:

– Floating feeds                                                         -Tilapia and Catfish fingerlings

– Brooders                                                                 – Hapas

-Harvesting nets                                                       -Water test kits

-Graders                                                                     -Hormones

-Hand nets                                                                 – Waders

Tailor made products can also be produced upon request. In case, there are other equipment, feel free to request and we will supply.

Further details can be provided through the following contacts:

Email: info@aqualinkmw.com

Direct calls: +265 881494271/999013833/999490569

In defying the commonly practiced error of stocking low quality fingerlings and broodfish, Agrivest Company engaged AquaLink to assist in securing quality tilapia brooders and fingerlings. Agrivest is a private owned company, located in the southeast part of Mangochi District. The farm is primarily established for cultivation of macadamia. The farm boarders with vegetatively covered hills of Liwonde National Park. The company has a 5 Ha and 15 Ha water holding dams at Chitakale farms. Downhill is the company farm where two dams are used as a water harvesting reservoirs. While harnessed water is irrigated into Macadamia fields during dry spells, Agrivest thought it wise to exploit dams with fishing and fish farming. Our company has been contracted to supply an initial batch of 50,000 quality fingerlings and 1,200 brooders of Oreochromis Karongae (predestined as Chambo) and Tilapia rendalli.  

Oftentimes the biggest mistakes that farmers make in fish farming is securing fingerlings or fish from unreliable sources whilst hoping to accrue better production returns. Although such stocks are secured at lower prices, the risk cost farmers scanty production outputs. Fish farming like other enterprises is a function of inputs; poor quality inputs yield low outputs. In escaping this error, Agrivest entrusted AquaLink to secure quality fingerlings and broodfish on their behalf.

While accessibility and securing of fingerlings and brooders is challenging in Malawi, yet still, AquaLink has met the supply requirements. Our company employed a robust approach to secure quality fingerlings and brooders that were delivered on 18^th April 2022 at Agrivest Chitakale farms. The company worked restlessly to secure quality brooders and fingerlings to meet required standards. Of paramount importance was identifying graded and healthy batches. During the transport process, our Aquaculture Technicians worked by the night to utilize low temperature window. This critical step suppresses fish metabolic processes with the aim of reducing uptake of Oxygen. Plastic fish liners filled with Oxygen were used to move fish from respective sites to a client farm. Both brooders and fingerlings were split and stocked into the two dams.

Excitingly, the director of Agrivest, Chris was impressed to see fish arriving in heathy state. “I am pleased to see heathy looking fish being stocked in these dams” Chris said. He went further to request AquaLink for further technical support. AquaLink agreed to be providing advisory support. This will mainly involve training the company with Best Management Practices (BMPs).

In response to Cyclone Idai and Kenneth, the government of Malawi through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs received a grant in 2019 from African Development Fund (ADF) to finance the Post Cyclone Idai and Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience (PCIREP) Project. The project aims to restore and improve sustainable livelihoods of affected vulnerable groups of the population, enhance disaster risk reduction, early warning, preparedness, support inclusive social and economic recovery empowerment and enhance post recovery adaptive capacity. The program will specifically aim to reconstruct and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure (including roads, bridges, water supply and   sanitation   facilities) and   to   restore   agricultural   livelihoods. Reconstruction   and rehabilitation will promote resilience to climate shocks and disasters and enhance the adaptive capacities and preparedness of vulnerable communities.

One of the key components of the project is to enhance Agricultural Productivity and Resilience. While the goal under this component is to restore productive agricultural infrastructure and re-build capacity of farmers, the project is also working with Department of Fisheries in supporting fish farming. Some districts earmarked for this, include Mulanje and Chikhwawa. The project is supporting capacity of Mulanje Fisheries Office, and Kasinthula Aquaculture Centre located in Chikhwawa to improve service delivery whilst assisting restoration of lost livelihoods to affected communities. Cyclone Idai and Kenneth left most families in despair when all their Income Generating Activities (IGA) were lost during the disaster.

In this context, the project is also procuring some project-related equipment to support its implementation process.  Aqualink stood out as a reliable aquaculture company that can supply a variety of aquaculture equipment based on our performance during the bidding phase.

The company has been on the ground organizing all necessary supplies, including various fish hatchery tools for the past two weeks. On March 10^th, our company traveled to Mulanje, and the following day, March 11^th, Aqualink team traveled to Chikhwawa to deliver the first batch of this order. The company is pleased to have delivered high-quality products that have brought satisfaction to our client. In the next couple of days, Aqaulink is also planning to deliver final part of the order.