The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) in Guatemala has launched a pilot plan to promote tilapia farming as a means to improve food security and provide new economic opportunities for rural families. The initiative is managed through the Vice Ministry of Food and Nutritional Security (VISAN).
Guatemala’s annual per capita fish consumption is among the lowest in Central America, estimated at 2.9 kilograms per person, which falls short of recommendations by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Specifically, farmed tilapia consumption stands at just 0.95 kilograms per person annually, according to FAO's "The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020".
The project aims to address these gaps by encouraging local production and consumption of high-value protein. MAGA describes tilapia as “a resilient species with rapid growth that adapts easily to local conditions,” making it suitable for small-scale pond farming.
Families participating in the program will each manage a small pond of 50 square meters, capable of raising up to 500 fish per cycle. Over the course of the 21-month project—spanning at least three full production cycles—each family could produce an estimated total of 1,500 tilapias. The average weight per fish is expected to be between 150 and 225 grams.
Technical support, nutritional guidance, and ongoing training are provided throughout the project. Participants receive instruction on building and managing ponds, feeding practices using both commercial feed and local resources such as moringa leaves or sweet potato vines, and sustainable resource use.
According to MAGA: “The Pilot Plan for Promoting Tilapia Farming is an initiative that encourages the production and consumption of high-value biological protein, which helps reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in rural communities. In addition, its implementation strengthens food self-sufficiency and creates new economic opportunities for rural families.”
In addition to improving diets, the project supports practical learning through continuous technical assistance.
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