OUR PROGRAMS

AQUACULTURE TRAINING

The heart of ACIK is a working, self-sustaining training fish farm at the Okile Landing Site on Lake Kyoga in the Kaberamaido District. The farm will train African fisherfolk to raise Tilapia, a fish native to our region, in cages on the lake as well as in ponds. Our “train the trainers” method enables more experienced fish farmers to train other members of their communities.

FINANCING AND SUPPORT

ACIK will loan equipment, feed, and other inputs to graduates of the training program, so they can start their own fish farm. This approach will create a multiplier effect, leading to the rapid expansion of small, locally-owned fish farms around the lake.

As the number of small fish farms grows, ACIK will become a Cooperative so that small farmers can enjoy economies of scale in purchasing and marketing. In this way, small farmers can compete with large commercial farms and extract fair prices from traders. The Cooperative will also provide extension services and mutual support.

Strong families are the key to successful economic and social development in rural Africa. However, families in our community have been weakened and broken apart by the traumas of war and poverty. A key part of our approach is to help families to restore and maintain balance, stability, and harmony through training, counseling, and spiritual support.

Families are the main unit of production in our communities, but profitable and sustainable fish farms require larger units of production than single families. In order to maintain the integrity of families in the transition to fish farming, ACIK will create Multi-family Business Units (MBUs) as the basis for each farm. MBU’s enable a number of families to work together to form a business. We will provide training, guidance, and support to help families in MBU’s cooperate and equitably share the fruits of their labors.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

BUSINESS MENTORSHIP

ACIK will provide training and ongoing support to enable the MBUs in business management, planning, monitoring, record keeping, and budgeting. ACIK mentors will help MBU’s set their economic goals and the goals for each individual family and the MBU’s.

MBU’s will be encouraged to diversify their sources of income to include other types of farming, animal rearing, crafts, and shops.

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

ACIK is a grass-roots social enterprise initiated and operated by people from the community for the community. We have worked to gain the support of all the clans in our communities as well as political and administrative endorsement at the district and national levels. We will do the same as we make aquaculture accessible to additional fishing communities around the lake.

As ACIK grows, we will use profits from the Cooperative to improve education, health care, and infrastructure so that everyone in our communities benefits from economic development.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The lake has been the source of life for our community for years and we will take responsibility for its welfare. Aquaculture will reduce pressure on the lake, allowing the natural fish population to rejuvenate itself. Providing people with the means to earn a livelihood will also save forests that are currently being cut down for charcoal by people who have no other way to survive.

ACIK is working with experts developing technologies for pond design, water filtration, and feed production aimed at making small scale fish farming ever more economical and more environmentally sustainable.

Learn more about what we advocate for

OUR VALUES