Background

BOMOSA schemes are pioneering small-scale fish farming in Eastern Africa by establishing rural aquaculture networks (coordinated in a "hub and plot" system) to economically integrate aquaculture with agriculture.

A BOMOSA scheme comprises of a central fish farm (hub), providing fish fingerlings and expertise to rural fish farming sites (plots). A BOMOSA plot consists of suitable water body, fish cages, pier construction, locally available fish feeds, feed dispensers and motivated fish farmers. The net-like BOMOSA cages can be folded, easily transported and handled by two persons without mechanical aid and BOMOSA schemes can be implemented along a wide range of water bodies such as reservoirs, ponds, ditches, irrigation channels and naturally occurring temporary water bodies formed during the rainy season.

Farmers are trained to rear the fish in cages in their "plots", harvesting them for fresh consumption as high protein dietary supplement and/or selling fish for generating additional income for subsistence farmers.