Although aquaculture has the potential to become a key source of animal protein in Mozambique, its expansion is limited by restricted access to cost-effective, high-quality feeds. This study formulated an artisanal tilapia diet using nine local ingredients from Balama and Namuno (Cabo Delgado, Mozambique), including cassava roots and leaves, moringa, maize, pearl millet, peanuts, and three local beans (bóer, jugo, nhemba). Nutritional profiles were assessed, and formulations tested in zootechnical trials.
An artisanal diet using locally sourced ingredients was tested against a commercial-like feed in controlled laboratory trials in Portugal, assessing SGR, FCR, VSI, body condition, whole-body composition, nutrient retention and balance, and digestive efficiency in juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (~10 g). A 60-day outdoor happa trial under African conditions validated the artisanal formulation (Figure 1), comparing artisanal (ART) and locally available commercial (COM) feeds in juvenile O. niloticus (~7.5 g) and Oreochromis mossambicus (~2.8 g).
In laboratory trials, O. niloticus fed the artisanal diet showed significantly reduced growth but similar intake, with improved nutrient retention and stable body composition. Field validation under African conditions revealed comparable performance between artisanal and commercial diets for O. niloticus, likely aided by natural protein inputs (e.g., insect larvae) that offset the diet’s moderate protein level (< 30%). In contrast, O. mossambicus showed significantly lower SGR, possibly due to genetic factors or higher protein requirements in smaller juveniles. Further production-scale studies are needed to validate these results.