.png "Rwanda cage aquaculture on Lake Kivu — targeting 80,000 tons of fish by 2035")
Aquaculture production target by 2035 — National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda
Imagine a country laced with 101 lakes, 861 rivers, and 860 marshlands — a true water paradise in the heart of Africa — yet one where the average citizen consumes less than 2.5 kilograms of fish per year. That is Rwanda today. But that reality is on the verge of a dramatic transformation.
In 2023, the Government of Rwanda — through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) — launched the National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda 2023–2035 (NASR). Its headline ambition is bold and specific: grow the country's farmed fish output from roughly 4,900 tonnes per year to 80,620 tonnes per year by 2035. Add wild-capture fisheries (targeted at 26,000 tonnes), and Rwanda could be producing over 106,000 tonnes of fish annually within a decade.
This article breaks down exactly how Rwanda plans to get there — the production systems, the key fish species, the infrastructure being built, and the challenges that still stand in the way. Whether you are a fish farmer, agribusiness investor, development professional, or a student of African agriculture, this is the most comprehensive guide you will find on Rwanda's fish revolution.
Source: National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda 2023–2035 (MINAGRI/RAB, May 2023)
Why Rwanda Urgently Needs More Fish
Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, home to an estimated 14 million people in 2024 — a figure projected to reach 18 million by 2035. With limited arable land and a rapidly growing population, protein security is not a future concern; it is an immediate one.
Fish is one of the most affordable, nutrient-dense sources of animal protein available. Yet Rwanda currently imports around 19,000 tonnes of fish per year — mostly dried freshwater pelagic fish and frozen tilapia fillets from China — at a massive foreign-exchange cost. Domestic aquaculture covers barely 17% of total fish supply, up from just 2% in 2011, but still far short of what is needed.
Per capita fish consumption in Rwanda stands at roughly 2.3 kg per person per year — well below the sub-Saharan Africa average of 6.6 kg and a fraction of the global average of 16.6 kg. The NASR aims to push that figure to at least 10 kg per person per year by 2035, which would require a seismic expansion of domestic production alongside population growth.
Sources: MINAGRI/RAB National Aquaculture Strategy 2023–2035; FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The Three Production Systems Powering Rwanda's Fish Target
The NASR does not rely on a single silver-bullet technology. Instead, it maps out three complementary production systems that together will drive the 80,000-tonne ambition:
| Production System | Scale / Capacity | Share of Aquaculture Target |
|---|---|---|
| Cage farming in lakes | 59,390 m³ of cage volume | ~73% |
| Earthen pond farming | 324 hectares of ponds | ~13% |
| Dams & reservoirs | 41 dams (~31.3 million m³) | Supplementary |
Source: Hatchery International, April 2024 — "Rwanda's Fishless Country"; MINAGRI/RAB NASR 2023
1. Cage Aquaculture — The Engine of Growth
Cage farming — enclosing fish in netted structures within natural water bodies — is by far the most powerful driver in Rwanda's plan. Cage fish farming is projected to contribute up to 73% of the country's total aquaculture production, with major operations already running on Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Burera.
As of the mid-2020s, there were already 26 major investors operating floating cages across Rwanda's lakes — 12 in Lake Kivu, 10 in Lake Muhazi, 3 in Lake Ruhondo, and 1 in Lake Sake. A 2023 survey counted 52 tilapia cage operators managing 656 floating cages. The government is actively inviting both local and foreign investors to scale this sector further.
The appeal is clear: cage farming produces large volumes of fish in relatively small surface areas, does not require land clearing, and suits Rwanda's cooler highland lake environments perfectly. The main species? Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which thrives in these water bodies and already commands the highest retail price — around USD 4.37 per kilogram for fresh whole fish.
Want to explore how cage farming works at a practical level? Read our in-depth guide: Explore Smart Aquaculture Resources on FarmXpert Group.
Sources: MINAGRI/RAB (2023); fisheriesjournal.com — "Tilapia Cage Culture in Rwanda", 2016; allAfrica.com, December 2024
2. Pond Farming — The Smallholder Backbone
Pond farming has been the backbone of Rwandan aquaculture since the Belgian colonial administration established the country's first fish ponds in the 1940s. Today, semi-intensive earthen ponds — where farmers use supplemental feed and some fertilization — represent 81% of Rwanda's existing pond-based production systems.
The Eastern Province leads in pond farming activity, partly because of the presence of irrigation dams used for rice growing. The Southern Province, with its higher water temperatures and flat valley floors, is also well-suited. Nile tilapia remains the dominant species, with African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) growing rapidly in popularity.
The NASR targets the expansion of pond area to 324 hectares nationwide, with a shift from subsistence to commercial-scale operations. Productivity targets are ambitious too: from 30 kg per 100 m² (the historical average) to 200 kg per 100 m² through improved genetics, better feed, and professional management.
Interested in starting your own fish pond? See our practical guide: Integrated Livestock and Fish Farming Guide 2025.
3. Dams and Reservoirs — The Hidden Opportunity
Less discussed but strategically important, Rwanda's 41 agricultural dams — built primarily for rice and vegetable irrigation — hold a combined capacity of approximately 31.3 million cubic metres. Many of these dams are underutilised for fish production. The NASR identifies dam-based aquaculture as a supplementary production stream that can add meaningful volume at relatively low cost, particularly in the Eastern Province.
.png "Earthen pond aquaculture in Rwanda — part of the 2023–2035 National Aquaculture Strategy")
Earthen ponds across Rwanda's Eastern and Southern provinces are being upgraded to support commercial-scale tilapia and catfish production. (Photo: MINAGRI)
Which Fish Species Will Drive Rwanda's Production?
.png "Earthen pond aquaculture in Rwanda — part of the 2023–2035 National Aquaculture Strategy")
Rwanda's aquaculture future is not a monoculture — it is a portfolio of species, each suited to different environments and farming systems:
Key Fish Species in Rwanda's Aquaculture Strategy
- Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) — The dominant species, grown in cages and ponds. Highest retail price (~USD 4.37/kg fresh). High consumer demand. Targeted for genetic improvement through the Nyamagabe Research Centre.
- African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) — Fast-growing, tolerant of low oxygen, well-suited to pond farming. Growing in popularity especially in peri-urban areas. Cheaper than tilapia but high volume potential.
- Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) — Grown primarily in pond systems, especially in colder highland areas. Third-lowest retail price but important for food security at community level.
- Rainbow Trout — A future possibility for Rwanda's cold upland waters (above 1,800 m altitude), currently at exploratory stage. Could serve premium restaurant and export markets.
The strategy is deliberately species-flexible: it encourages farmers to choose species that fit their local climate, water temperatures, and available feed ingredients. In practice, tilapia will dominate cage farming in the lakes, while catfish and carp will grow in importance across pond systems.
Source: NASR 2023–2035 (MINAGRI); Tandfonline aquaculture survey, Rwanda, 2022
Infrastructure and Innovation: Building the Backbone of a Fish Industry
The Nyamagabe National Breeding and Research Centre
One of the most transformative investments in Rwanda's aquaculture sector is the construction of a National Aquaculture Research and Breeding Centre in Nyamagabe District, Southern Province. Managed by RAB, this facility aims to end Rwanda's dependence on imported fish seed — a practice that has long carried disease-introduction risks and supply uncertainties.
Once operational, the centre is projected to produce between 1 million and 3 million broodstock per year. These high-quality parent fish will supply Rwanda's growing network of private hatcheries, which in turn will produce fingerlings for fish farmers across the country.
Six New Certified Tilapia Hatcheries
In August 2024, RAB certified six new private tilapia hatcheries — located in Rwamagana, Kayonza, Bugesera, Gisagara, and Rusizi districts — to supply fingerlings to local fish farmers. Before this, Rwanda had just two certified hatcheries, both publicly owned and operating at limited scale. These new facilities underwent rigorous inspection and met regional standards for fish seed certification, with technical support from the WorldFish Center and the TAAT initiative (Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation).
Combined with three large public hatcheries in Rwamagana, Rwasave, and Kigembe, and eight satellite hatcheries spread across multiple districts, Rwanda now has a functioning fingerling supply network for the first time in its history.
Source: allAfrica.com — "Six New Tilapia Hatcheries to Help Scale Up Fish Production in Rwanda", August 2024
Gishanda Fish Farm — A Blueprint for Modern Aquaculture
Perhaps no single facility better illustrates Rwanda's aquaculture ambitions than Gishanda Fish Farm, located 10 km from the main gate of Akagera National Park in Eastern Province. Opened in October 2022 and co-funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Skretting/Nutreco, and African Parks, Gishanda deploys a cutting-edge Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) powered by solar energy.
A RAS system recycles up to 95% of its water, uses ten times less water than traditional pond farming, and allows high-density fish production in a small land footprint. Gishanda is designed to produce up to 30 tonnes of market-ready tilapia per year (350–500 gram fish), plus 1 to 1.5 million tilapia fingerlings annually. Of these fingerlings, around 300,000 to 400,000 are used for restocking lakes in the Eastern region.
Beyond production, Gishanda serves as Rwanda's premier aquaculture training hub — hosting catfish demonstration ponds for community farmers, partnering with Karongi TVET for vocational training, and demonstrating integrated circular agriculture (fish effluent is used to fertilize an on-site organic vegetable farm).
Technology and infrastructure without skilled people to manage them will not deliver results. This lesson has been learned painfully in Rwanda's aquaculture sector — investors have openly reported "heavy losses due to much theoretical rather than practical skills" among workers, even university graduates. Themistocle Munyangeyo, Managing Director of Fine Fish Ltd, which operates on Lake Kivu and Lake Muhazi, was blunt: "There is a need for the government to move faster to establish more fish farming schools."
In response, RAB has launched the Farmer Field School (FFS) program — a collaborative, hands-on learning approach originally introduced by MINAGRI in 2012 — to equip fish farmers with real-world skills in pond management, water quality monitoring, feeding protocols, disease control, and financial record-keeping. The program targets both smallholder farmers and commercial operators.
RAB is also collaborating with the Rwanda TVET Board, particularly Karongi TVET, to offer aquaculture training from 3-month certificates all the way to bachelor's and master's degrees. Graduates from the University of Rwanda and Israeli-trained aquaculture students have been deployed as extension officers across the country's fish pond networks.
The NASR projects that direct employment in the aquaculture value chain — including hatcheries, farms, feed mills, processing, and trade — could reach over 30,000 men and women by 2035.
Rwanda's Aquaculture Roadmap: Key Milestones to 2035
The NASR is not a wish list — it is a phased strategy with clear milestones aligned to Rwanda's Vision 2050 and the mid-term Vision 2035 upper-middle-income target:
2023
National Aquaculture Strategy for Rwanda 2023–2035 published. Gatsby Africa and Poseidon Aquatic Resources Management Ltd support its development.
2024
Six new private tilapia hatcheries certified by RAB. National Breeding Centre construction begins in Nyamagabe. $16 million Belgium-funded aquaculture support project initiated.
2025
Farmer Field School (FFS) program scaling nationwide. Rwanda Feed mill near Kigali processing local ingredients into commercial pellets. Private-sector cage farming expanding on Lakes Kivu and Muhazi.
2030
Aquaculture share of total fish supply reaches ~50%. Tilapia exports to DRC begin. Government financial support for pioneer investors phased out; sector operating commercially.
2035
Target: 80,620 tonnes from aquaculture + 26,000 tonnes from wild fisheries = 106,000+ tonnes total. Per-capita fish consumption reaches 10 kg/year. 30,000+ jobs in the value chain.
Source: NASR 2023–2035 Roadmap Section (MINAGRI/RAB); Hatchery International, 2024
The Challenges Rwanda Must Overcome
Rwanda's ambition is credible, but no strategy this bold is without its obstacles. Understanding these challenges is essential for anyone planning to invest in or work within Rwanda's aquaculture sector:
Key Challenges Facing Rwanda's Aquaculture Sector
- Feed costs and availability: High-quality aqua feed remains expensive in Rwanda, with most ingredients (soya, fishmeal) imported. A local Rwanda Feed mill has emerged near Kigali, but feed supply at scale is still developing.
- Fingerling supply gaps: Despite new hatcheries, most cage operators have struggled with fingerling shortages and high mortality rates in young fish. The Nyamagabe Research Centre aims to resolve this.
- Skills gap: Practical aquaculture expertise is scarce, especially for cage management and water quality monitoring. The FFS and TVET programs are addressing this but need time to scale.
- Environmental management: Rapid cage expansion in lakes must be carefully managed to avoid eutrophication and ecosystem degradation. The NASR specifically calls for stronger RAB governance and environmental monitoring.
- Illegal fishing (IUU): Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Lake Kivu has reduced wild fish stocks and created market distortions. Improved enforcement is needed.
- Market demand: Expanding production must be matched by expanding consumer demand. Rwandan per-capita fish consumption is among the lowest in the region; raising it requires marketing investment and price accessibility.
Investment Opportunities in Rwanda's Fish Sector
For investors and entrepreneurs, Rwanda's aquaculture gap is an opportunity. The country has the water bodies, the government policy framework, the growing urban market in Kigali, and the regional demand from neighbouring DRC, Burundi, and Uganda. What it still needs is capital, technology, and skilled management.
Current investment entry points include: cage farming operations on Lakes Kivu and Muhazi, fingerling hatcheries (the government is actively looking for private operators), commercial aqua feed production using local ingredients, fish processing and cold-chain logistics, and integrated agro-aquaculture systems (fish ponds integrated with crop or livestock farms).
Rwanda's legal and regulatory environment for aquaculture investors is improving. The government has eased licensing processes for aquaculture and offers co-management arrangements with the private sector in large public water bodies. Belgium has committed over $16 million in five-year funding to support aquaculture development, and international bodies including the FAO, USAID, and the WorldFish Center are active partners.
For a full breakdown of investment opportunities and entry strategies, read our companion article: Investment Opportunities in Rwanda's Aquaculture Sector — Updates 2026.
Sources: MINAGRI press releases; allAfrica.com; FarmXpert Group Aquaculture label
Rwanda's ambition gains additional context when placed alongside global trends. According to FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, aquaculture now accounts for over 50% of global fish consumption — and that share is rising as wild fisheries stagnate. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, contributes only about 2.7% of global aquaculture production, even though it is home to some of the world's fastest-growing populations and largest freshwater systems.
Egypt dominates African aquaculture, followed by Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana. Rwanda is a relative newcomer to commercial aquaculture, but its institutional focus, policy ambition, and water-body assets give it a credible path to becoming a regional leader — particularly if it can capitalize on the DRC market, where over 100 million people lack consistent access to affordable protein.
For a deeper look at how Rwanda's strategy compares with the broader African aquaculture landscape, the FAO's historical review of aquaculture development in Rwanda provides invaluable baseline context going back to the 1970s.
A Fish Revolution Worth Watching
Rwanda's plan to produce 80,000 tonnes of fish by 2035 is not just an agricultural target — it is a food security transformation, an employment engine, and a test case for what a small, landlocked, land-scarce African country can achieve when it commits to a data-driven, sector-specific strategy.
The building blocks are in place: a published and funded national strategy, a growing hatchery network, a pipeline of trained extension officers, landmark facilities like Gishanda and the Nyamagabe Research Centre, international partnerships, and — crucially — a private sector that is beginning to believe in the sector's commercial viability.
The challenges are real: feed costs, fingerling shortages, IUU fishing, and a chronic skills gap. But Rwanda has a track record of delivering on ambitious national targets when the political will, the institutional framework, and the partnerships align. The aquaculture sector appears to be at exactly that inflection point.
Whether you are a fish farmer looking to upgrade your pond, an investor evaluating cage farming in Lake Kivu, or a researcher studying African food systems — Rwanda's aquaculture story deserves your full attention. The next decade will define whether the country joins Africa's leading fish producers, or misses a generational opportunity.
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