BY RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

The Usunione tilapia farmers in southern Malaita are celebrating a major win after harvesting from their one-year-old tilapia pond on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

This milestone has sparked strong motivation among farmers to expand their tilapia farming efforts, with many nearby communities and villages also showing keen interest in starting their own ponds.

Senior Fisheries Officer, Mathew Isihanua shared the excitement, saying the farmers are proud to see their hard work pay off with bigger, healthier fish and a productive harvest.

“They are very happy and grateful to see their pond producing more tilapia, which are bigger in size and healthier.

“This success has encouraged them to build more ponds and continue farming, which is a promising way to generate income and provide nutritious food for their families,” he said.

After harvesting, the farmers transfer the smaller tilapia fingerlings into newly prepared ponds while selling the larger fish to the local market.

The Usunione group, formed last year by 20 young men with support from the former Ministry of Finance and Treasury IT Officer, started farming Mozambique tilapia after receiving fingerlings from a farmer in Small Malaita.

Looking ahead, Isihanua noted that the farmers are eager to gain more skills and knowledge in tilapia farming, especially when the country will import a new species, Nile Tilapia.

“Their goal is to have many ponds in the future and improve their farming techniques while preparing for the arrival of Nile Tilapia,” he said.

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