Mentorship aqua farming
Empowering future fish farmers
Join the 2025–2026 De Heus Uganda 12 months Fish Farming Mentorship Program
De Heus Uganda is proud to launch a Fish Farming Mentorship Program, a 12-month transformative journey designed to empower Uganda’s next generation of aquaculture champions. This initiative seeks to mentor both medium-scale fish farmers and experienced entrepreneurs aiming to build or scale successful fish farming ventures.
This program aligns with our commitment to strengthening Uganda’s aquaculture sector by providing practical skills, business knowledge and tailored support to the people driving its growth. Through expert-led mentorship, field-based training and strategic business development, participants will gain the skills and knowledge they need to improve production efficiency, increase profitability and contribute meaningfully to food security and economic development.
Why join the program?
Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to diversify into aquaculture or a medium-scale fish farmer aiming to boost productivity, this program is designed to help you turn potential into excellence.
For entrepreneurs:
- Get expert guidance on building a scalable and profitable aquaculture business.
- Maximize profit margins by cutting costs, improving feed efficiency, and strengthening farm operations.
- Gain technical knowledge on successfully operating aquaculture enterprises.
- Access insights into markets and business links to grow your investment.
For medium-scale farmers:
- Learn practical skills in key aquaculture practices.
- Unlock better market opportunities and business networks.
- Receive one-on-one support to solve your farm’s specific challenges.
Program purpose
The De Heus mentorship program seeks to empower fish farmers across Uganda by:
- Helping existing medium-scale farmers become more productive, efficient, and profitable.
- Guiding entrepreneurs to successfully invest and grow in aquaculture.
- Building a strong, connected network of skilled and knowledgeable fish farming professionals
Who should apply?
We are looking for two distinct categories of participants
Entrepreneurs: Businesspeople who have the capacity to invest and diversify in new sectors.
- Have proof of access to financial means
- Have a valid business license
- Have proof of land ownership or long-term lease
- Able to attend or delegate participation
Medium-scale fish farmers: Farmers that have already established fish farms, typically operating 20-60 cages or multiple ponds.
- Produce below 50 tons of fish annually.
- Currently using or willing to adopt commercial feeds
- Have access to land, water, and capital
- Commitment to use De Heus feed during the program
- Available to attend or assign someone for training sessions
Core courses to undertake during the program
For Medium-Scale Farmers:
|
Course |
What You Will Be Able to Do |
|
Reproduction management (Breeding and hatchery management) |
Develop a production plan, fry collection and transfer log, feeding schedules. Fish seed production and hatchery management (including fingerling transportation; early stock management in grow-out pond) |
|
Feed and feeding management |
Observe feeding behavior, Measure and monitor FCR Develop a feeding plan, eFCR calculator, feed usage feeding logbook, weekly feed report, feed calculator Adjust feed according to fish growth |
|
Water quality monitoring |
How to operate the water test equipment, How to monitor daily water parameters, Develop a water parameter dairy |
|
Fish health management |
Set competitive prices, find buyers, and close sales (make a sales receipt/ invoice, daily sales summary sheet, sales ledger or cash records) |
|
Fish harvesting |
Fish sampling (production cycle performance tracker) Develop a harvest plan, fish harvest record note, sales/delivery note, stock report
|
|
Financial basics |
Develop a financial forecast, sales receipts, monthly farm budgets, payment vouchers Calculating profits |
|
How to sell fish (marketing & pricing) |
Set competitive prices, find buyers, and close sales (make a sales receipt/ invoice, daily sales summary sheet, sales ledger or cash records) |
For Entrepreneurs:
|
Course |
What You Will Be Able to Do |
|
Aquaculture as a viable business investment |
Develop an enterprise budget, income statement, cash flow statement, Evaluate scalability and expansion Potential Make informed decisions, Explore Market Opportunities |
|
Market demand and financial projections |
Interpret market trends and make informed investment decisions (develop a market trends analysis sheet) How to develop price sheets |
|
Return on investment in aquaculture |
Calculate ROI, FCR, Determine payback period Assess profitability drivers i.e. Feed efficiency, survival rate, sales price |
|
Business planning and enterprise budgeting |
Develop a business plan, enterprise budget Set realistic targets such as stocking density, expected survival rates, harvest weights |
|
Operational requirements for fish farm setup |
Select a suitable site, Choose a farming system, Estimate setup costs, Understand input needs |
