Construction a Pond

• Ponds must be established according to the landscape available.

• A rectangular pond is easier for monitoring fish feeding rate, drainage, harvesting as well as cleaning the bottom of the pond.

• Dike of the pond must be built based on soil type, rainfall situation of the region, heighted needed to avoid floods.

• The crest of the dike must be built to be convenient to monitor fish and feeding, and harvest between the ponds.

• The slope of the dike must be constructed to ensure to resist flooding and waves.

• Toe must be built from the base of the dike to the inner slope for reducing soil erosion from the slope. 

• The bottom of the pond must incline no more than 2% to the drainage.

• Male mono-sex culture can be raised well even in 0.03-acre pond.

• The optimum water depth is 1.5 meter and measuring pole should be placed in the pond before filling water to easily determine the water depth.

• Build 3-meter bamboo or wooden bridge in the pond to feed the fish.

• The water inlet and outlet must be separate and thick PVC pipes with the diameter of 3-4 inches are appropriate for inlet and outlet.

• Fence should be built to prevent poaching and entering wild fish to the pond.

Picture 1 Systematic fish pond (Source: Smart Farmer Africa)