How can we help communities lift themselves out of extreme poverty?
DRAO helps communities identify their most urgent needs and the long-term factors blocking their progress. Together, we identify the strengths and knowledge already in the communities and build on them to break down barriers. Most often our work is with subsistence farmers in some of the hardest-to-reach rural areas, but we also work in urban slum communities, tailoring approaches that are appropriate, practical, and achievable in each setting.
Empower Families One at a Time
DRAOO is running a program (Empower Families One at a Time) and is therefore looking for donors, partners, and funding to establish fish farming to end extreme poverty, sustain the community, and improve livelihoods. The project will impact 2000 community families over 5 years. It will strengthen households’ capacity for economic and income-generating activities. To help eradicate poverty or learn more about the project, contact the project coordinator.
Moving Water through Aquaponics
DRAO will help youth in Chipunga, Rumphi District, and Nyungwe, Karonga District, construct Low-cost Tilapia Fish Tank Systems with biofilters, at a cost of USD 3000.00 each. To help eradicate poverty, contact us
Fish Tank System with Filtered Water
Uses IBC tanks, available in Mzuzu. No need for a river. Water recycles.
HOW IT WORKS–Simple:
Water goes: Fish Tank → Filter → Biofilter → Clean Tank → Back to Fish (pump).
Fish Tank 1 & 2 (2x IBC 1000L): Tilapia.
Put 300-400 fingerlings per tank. Raise them off the ground 50 cm so water flows by gravity.
Mechanical Filter (1 blue drum, 200 L): This is your toilet. Fill with layers: top = mosquito net, middle = sponge, bottom = small stones. It catches poop and leftover feed. Clean this EVERY DAY—remove the dirt and use it to water sack gardens. Very good manure.
Bottle caps, old net, small stones — anything with many surfaces. Good bacteria will grow there. Bacteria eat poison (ammonia from fish pee) and change it to safe nitrate. Don’t clean this with soap! Just rinse gently.
Clean Water Tank + Pump: One drum holds clean water. Use a small 12V solar pump available in Mzuzu, powered by a small 50W solar panel. No ESCOM needed.
Materials List
2 IBC tanks, 3 drums, PVC pipes 1 inch (10 meters), solar pump 12V, small solar panel, bottle caps/bio balls
Total cost: ∼$250-$350 (MWK 400k-600k) for a 2,000 L system — can grow 600 fish every 6 months.
3 RULES:
Feed small, 2x per day. Overfeeding kills fish.
Change 10% of the water per week (use dirty water on gardens)
Never wash biofilter with chlorine — it kills good bacteria.
Calculate how many fish you can grow and profit per 6 months for your project?
Here is the honest calculation for your project— first cycle you lose small, second cycle you profit big. This is normal.
TANK SYSTEM
Stock: 700 fingerlings (350 per tank)
Survival: 85% = 595 fish harvested
Size after 6 months: 250g each = 149 KG fish
Make the World a Better Place!
Help us build the low-cost tilapia fish tank system above with a biofilter for Chipunga and Nyungwe youth. for USD 3,000.00 each