In line with our commitment to establishing a resilient and inclusive pisciculture system, the BHR technical team carried out a series of field visits (25 in all), in June 2025 across interested fish farms under the BHR Production Consortium. These farms are located within Bamenda I, II, III, Bafut, Santa, and Bambui council areas.

Overview of Farm Infrastructure
The farms visited utilize diversed pond structures, including:
-Earthen ponds, Concrete ponds and Tarpaulin ponds

While some farms are already operational, others are still under construction or in the early planning phases.

Key Observations
(1) Water Quality Concerns: A significant number of ponds did not meet recommended water quality standards, making them vulnerable to infections;;such as one noted in Bafut—fish populations were already affected. Immediate, on-site recommendations were made to help salvage ongoing production efforts.

(2) Varied Performance Across Farms :Performance varied across farms, with some progressing steadily while others faced setbacks. For instance, the farm at Mile 6 Nkwen demonstrated commendable practices and results, while others are still navigating the learning curve.

(3) Challenges with Input Procurement:
Several farmers reported unfortunate experiences with unreliable suppliers. Issues ranged from suppliers providing substandard fish feeds and fingerlings, to fake testing kits and antibiotics. In some cases, these challenges have led to the complete shutdown of operations. The BHR team acknowledges these incidents as serious threats to sustainable fish farming and is working on countermeasures.

Key Recommendations and Resolutions by the BHR Team
(1) Engage Only Trusted Stakeholders:
Farmers are strongly encouraged to work with verified and reputable suppliers and service providers to build a trustworthy and efficient fish farming network.

(2) Individualized Technical Support:
Regular, hands-on, one-on-one technical support is essential to help farmers launch, restart, or scale up operations successfully and sustainably.

(3) Access to Affordable Farming resources:
Mechanisms should be put in place to facilitate access to affordable, high-quality fish farming resources for struggling or emerging farmers.

(4) Develop a Structured Marketing Chain:
Creating a centralized and reliable market system will help ensure profitability and long-term interest in fish farming.

(5) Prioritize Water Management:
Farmers must ensure access to clean and reliable water sources and adhere to proper water management protocols such as frequent water changes, to safeguard fish health and profitability.

Immediate Action Plan
To address these findings, the BHR team is taking the following immediate steps:

(1) Provision of Affordable Start-up resources:
Make available essential fish farming materials at affordable rates to enable new entrants and revitalize inactive farms.

(2) Strategic Stakeholder Engagement:
Organize meetings with key stakeholders and partners to establish mutually beneficial partnerships for sector growth.

(3) Continued Technical Support:
Maintain regular follow-up and mentorship for farms already identified during the visit.

Acknowledgments
(1) The BHR technical visits were met with great enthusiasm and appreciation from the farmers.
(2) It is worth highlighting that all logistics and resources for these field visits were fully provided by the BHR coordinating team as part of our commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable pisciculture ecosystem.