Oliver Jolezya Hasimuna

1. In regions like Southern Africa, aquaculture is becoming increasingly vital as a sustainable solution to food security challenges and a growing population (Maulu et al. 2024; Chibiya et al. 2025...

Aquaculture is increasingly important to food security, nutrition, livelihoods and economic development in Zambia, yet sectoral growth depends on more than production capacity. This scoping review synthesised evidence on Zambia's aquaculture market systems, focusing on value chains, supply chains and persistent evidence gaps. Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched alongside relevant grey literature for records published between 2000 and 2026. Of 652 records retrieved, 563 remained after removal of duplicates and clearly ineligible records, 152 full texts were assessed, and 107 sources were charted through the formal review process; 14 supplementary sources identified during manuscript revision were subsequently incorporated, giving 121 sources in the final synthesis. Evidence was synthesised across six value‐chain stages and four sustainability dimensions. The sector is increasingly dualistic, with rapid production growth alongside persistent structural constraints. Reported production increased from 21,567 t in 2017 to 52,922 t in 2022, whereas the share attributed to establishments captured in Zambia Statistics Agency surveys increased from 74% to 79%; Southern Province accounted for 73% of production in 2022. Administrative and survey estimates for the same year differed by 43%. Feed costs and weak cold‐chain infrastructure recurred across the value chain, alongside reported post‐harvest losses of 20%–30% and formal credit access of 12%–16%. Evidence on smallholder aquaculture was mixed: Some studies characterised it as unsustainable as a primary livelihood activity, whereas farm‐level analyses indicated that individual ponds could be financially viable, suggesting constraints beyond production itself. Major evidence gaps remain in cold‐chain and aggregation economics, gender‐disaggregated analysis, environmental performance, policy evaluation and household production dynamics. Future development requires stronger market‐system integration alongside production growth and targeted empirical and policy research.

1. Fish and fishery products are among the most important sources of high-quality animal protein worldwide, supplying approximately 20% of global animal protein intake for more than 3 billion peopl...

Aquaculture insurance is a viable tool for addressing risks associated with the aquaculture sector. This study investigates the institutional risks, barriers and opportunities related to aquaculture insurance in Zambia, guided by Institutional Theory, Market Failure Theory and Risk and Uncertainty Theory. Data were collected from 51 purposively selected insurance companies and banks using a semi‐structured questionnaire designed to capture institutional, market and risk‐related variables. The findings indicate that the aquaculture insurance market is still underdeveloped, with only 16% of surveyed institutions currently offering aquaculture insurance products. Among the eight institutions offering aquaculture insurance, pond location was the most frequently considered criterion (87.5%), while production cost, number and size of ponds, species and culture system were each considered by 62.5% of providers. Major challenges include difficulty in assessing aquaculture risks (84.3%), while notable opportunities lie in collaboration with other companies (100%), increased government support (88.2%) and improved extension services on aquaculture insurance (88.2%). There was no statistically significant association between years in operation and provision of aquaculture insurance (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.2678), while institutions offering aquaculture insurance were significantly more familiar with the aquaculture industry than those not offering such products (Mann–Whitney U test, W = 7.5, p = 0.007). The study concludes that aquaculture insurance provision in Zambia is currently low but viable. From an institutional perspective, the findings highlight how regulatory structures, market inefficiencies and risk uncertainty shape insurance provision in the sector. We recommend developing aquaculture‐tailored insurance products and improving risk assessment mechanisms through enhanced technical capacity building and stakeholder collaboration to foster a resilient and inclusive aquaculture insurance market. Further research is needed to examine the determinants and profitability of aquaculture insurance among fish farmers.

The optimization of the nutritional requirements of native tilapia species is vital for enhancing aquaculture productivity and promoting sustainable fish farming in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the optimum dietary protein requirement of the three-spotted tilapia ( Oreochromis andersonii , Castelnau, 1861) juveniles reared under suboptimal mean temperature conditions (19.28 ± 0.10 °C). A total of 225 fish (initial mean weight 2.51 ± 0.19 g) were randomly assigned to five diets containing 34%, 36%, 38%, 40%, and 42% crude protein, with three replicates per treatment. After 8 weeks, fish fed the 38% protein diet achieved significantly higher final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR), with a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the 34% group. Survival rate (SR) and condition factor (K) were unaffected by protein level. Whole-body composition analysis showed higher crude protein content in fish fed the 42% diet, while crude fat decreased with increasing protein levels; ash content peaked in fish fed the 38% diet. Second-order polynomial regression estimated the optimum dietary protein requirement at 38.3% (FCR-based) and 38.5% (SGR-based) at a 95% confidence level. These findings suggest that a dietary protein level of approximately 38% promotes optimal growth and feed efficiency in O. andersonii juveniles reared under suboptimal mean temperature (~ 19 °C) conditions. This study provides essential guidance for practical feed formulation and supports the expansion of sustainable aquaculture systems in the region.

Climate change is one of the major threats to global food production systems, with aquaculture being particularly vulnerable. Despite the widespread use of insurance as a coping mechanism for natural disasters, its adoption in aquaculture remains minimal and often undocumented in developing countries. This study examined fish farmers' perceptions and interest in aquaculture insurance as a resilience tool against tropical cyclones, focusing on Cyclone Freddy in Southern Malawi. A mixed‐methods approach involving physical and telephonic surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews was conducted with 522 fish farmers across five districts from March to April 2024. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a binary logit regression model to identify factors associated with farmers’ interest in aquaculture insurance. Although 48.6% of farmers interviewed were aware of insurance concepts, none had specific knowledge of aquaculture insurance, despite experiencing significant losses from Cyclone Freddy. Key barriers included limited awareness and the lack of aquaculture insurance providers. However, most farmers expressed interest in insurance schemes. Interest significantly increased among male farmers, those with higher education levels, membership in farmers' associations, prior insurance knowledge and severe disaster experiences, while it declined with age ( p < 0.05). Fish stocks and ponds were identified as priority assets for coverage, with premium costs, trust in providers and government incentives as critical considerations. Developing accessible, sustainable aquaculture insurance frameworks is crucial to safeguarding investments, enhancing resilience and promoting sustainable aquaculture development in Malawi.

Fresh fish is highly perishable and requires an efficient cold chain to maintain quality and safety. In Zambia, recurrent load shedding disrupts refrigeration and storage systems, increasing the risk of post‐harvest losses and food safety. This study examined the effects of load shedding on fresh fish handling, supply and consumer access in Chinsali District of Muchinga Province, Zambia, in June 2024. Semi‐structured questionnaires were administered to fish suppliers ( n = 19) and consumers ( n = 169), and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi‐square test of independence. Results showed that 93% of suppliers and 84% of consumers were negatively affected by load shedding, mainly through accelerated spoilage, inconsistent supply and increased operational costs. Consumers responded by purchasing smaller quantities or shifting to alternative protein sources, whereas suppliers adopted coping measures, such as reducing inventory and investing in alternative energy options. The findings highlight the vulnerability of the fresh fish value chain to energy disruptions and emphasize the need for improved preservation technologies, training in post‐harvest handling and policy support to strengthen cold‐chain resilience in rural aquaculture and fisheries markets.

Aquaculture sustainability is threatened by heavy metal contamination, particularly in regions where rivers are the primary water sources. The present study assessed the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in two key aquaculture species, Oreochromis macrochir and Coptodon rendalli , from the Kabompo River, Zambia. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), Ni (0.003–0.065 mg/kg ww), Zn (0.41–3.90 mg/kg ww), Cu (3.42–6.81 mg/kg ww) and Mn (0.04–0.24 mg/kg ww) were detected in muscle tissue, while Cd, Co and Pb were below detection limits. All detected metal concentrations were within permissible limits set by national and international standards for food safety, indicating a negligible immediate health risk to both fish and human consumers. A two‐way ANOVA showed that concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn were significantly influenced by both sampling site and fish species ( p < 0.05), whereas Ni varied significantly only by site. The overall order of metal concentration was Cu > Zn > Mn > Ni. Furthermore, key physicochemical water parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids) showed no significant spatial variation and remained within optimal ranges for tilapia aquaculture. This study provides baseline information on heavy metal concentration in edible tissues of Oreochromis macrochir and Coptodon rendalli from the Kabompo River, contributing to food safety assessment and aquaculture management in the region. However, continued monitoring is recommended to safeguard long‐term fishery sustainability and food security.

Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) trading plays a vital role in supporting rural livelihoods and contributing to household food security. This study examined the socioeconomic opportunities and challenges faced by tomato traders in the district. Primary data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires administered to traders, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The majority of traders were women (77.5%), predominantly aged between 20 and 30 years, and more than half (57.5%) had attained primary education. Women were found to be earning more on average than men through tomato trading. Income generation was the primary motivation for engaging in tomato trading (45%), with most traders (70%) relying on personal savings as their main source of start-up capital. The main opportunities identified were high consumer demand (35.4%) and access to new markets (29.2%), whereas poor market infrastructure (28.8%) and high transportation costs (21.2%) were the major challenges. Traders highlighted the need for financial support (53.3%) and improved infrastructure (33.3%) to enhance operations. The results indicated a statistically significant association between education level and weekly income ( χ ² (6) = 37.638, p < 0.001). Similarly, a statistically significant association was observed between gender and weekly income ( χ ² (3) = 22.456, p < 0.001). Given that tomato traders are predominantly young women with low levels of formal education, the findings suggest that access to credit and vocational capacity-building interventions should be specifically targeted at young and female traders to improve incomes and enhance the sustainability of tomato trading in rural Zambia.