Optimizing the feeding of Nile tilapia and catfish in agricultural systems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is full of natural resources and has enormous agricultural potential. Yet the agricultural sector contributes little to the economic and social development of this Central African country. For example, despite its enormous potential, aquaculture contributes only 9% to national fish consumption. Aquaculture activity is still rudimentary, unproductive and practiced in ponds by smallholders with few resources and know-how. Artificial feeding is a major factor in the intensification of aquaculture farms worldwide. In the DRC, a major obstacle to this intensification is the lack of availability on the local market of complete foods or ingredients that are balanced or sufficiently rich in digestible proteins for the main fish grown locally in monoculture or polyculture (tilapia sp. and Oreochromis sp.) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). This situation does not allow a satisfactory productivity of farms and gradually leads to a demotivation of farmers and finally the abandonment of ponds. Another difficulty is the lack of knowledge of the nutritional needs of these species, particularly their essential amino acid needs. As a result, some essential amino acids are found in limited quantities in rations with similar consequences as those mentioned above.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Our main objective is to produce a healthy food based on maggots or fly larvae to improve the performance of fish (case of tilapia and Clarias).
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
In this context, the specific objectives of this doctoral thesis work are to :
evaluate the production of maggots: quantity and quality (microbiological aspects and presence of inorganic pollutants or heavy metals) of the maggots produced;
determine the nutritional value (palatability, apparent digestibility of energy and nutrients, growth) of Nile tilapia and Clarias from locally produced Musca domestica maggots in Kinshasa;
propose incorporation rates that meet the nutritional needs of Nile tilapia and Clarias;
assess the impact of their use on fish growth and health (hematological parameters, microbiological aspects and presence of inorganic pollutants or heavy metals).
HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY
The use of locally produced fly maggots at an affordable price will balance the rations of the Nile tilapia and Clarias by meeting the specific nutritional needs of these fish and intensify the aquaculture production of the periphery of Kinshasa.
Fly maggots can be sustainably produced on substrates based on organic waste and local products without the risk of contamination with inorganic pollutants for fish and therefore safe for humans who consume these fish.