Protocols for the development of indigenous species: polyculture of indigenous species under Malawian smallholder conditions*

Shire tilapia, Oreochromis shiranus shiranus (Boulenger 1897), was grown in monoculture and polyculture with either straightfin barb, Barbus paludinosus (Peters 1852), or threespot barb, Barhus trimaculatus (Peters 1852), (collectively known as matemba) under conditions which simulated smallholder farming conditions in Southern Malawi. Over 150 days, B. paludinosus-O. shiranus shiranus polyculture was significantly (P < 0.05) more productive than either O. shiranus shiranus or B. paludinosus monoculture. Over 107 days. B. trimaculatus-O. shiranus shiranus monocultures and polyculture were equally productive (P < 0.05). Average weights of O. shiranus shiranus and matemba were not affected by polyculture (P < 0.05). Survival of O. shiranus shiranus from stocking to harvest was not affected by polyculture with B. paludinosus, but was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in polyculture with B. trimaculatus. Survival of matemba from stocking to harvest was not affected by polyculture (P<0.05). Total weight and number of O. shiranus shiranus and B. paludinosus juveniles produced during growout were the same in monoculture and polyculture (P<0.05). but total weight of B. trimaculatus was significantly (P<0.05) lower in polyculture. Polycultures were clearly more profitable than all monocultures. Next most profitable were tilapia monocultures. Matemba monocultures were least profitable. Based on these findings, preliminary protocols for the development of other indigenous fish species for aquaculture are described.