From Pond to Plate, Companion Empowerment | Zebrafish Capital Drives Sustainable Fisheries and Community Farmer

Recently, the red tilapia farming demonstration project jointly initiated by Zebrafish Capital and partner Mr. Bala TAM has achieved a milestone—the first batch of 70,000 healthy red tilapia were successfully harvested and released to the market, marking a critical step forward in promoting the transformation of small-scale farmers and sustainable aquaculture.

The success of this batch stems from an in-depth collaboration that started from scratch: within just two months of the project's launch, we worked closely with a traditional farmer to comprehensively rebuild the farming system, covering aspects such as water quality management, fry selection, feed strategy, and technical processes. This effort achieved the goals of a short farming cycle, high survival rate, and robust fish health.

Project Achievement Summary

· ✅ 70,000 red tilapia harvested on schedule

· ✅ Second round of farming to commence in mid-August 2025

· ✅ Farmers completed full-process skill transformation and acquired independent operation capabilities

· ✅ Validated a replicable and scalable industrial empowerment model

Behind this project lies the full support of Mr. Bala, a seasoned entrepreneur, expert, and training mentor with years of deep-rooted experience in Southeast Asia's aquaculture industry. Over the years, Mr. Bala has not only dedicated himself to technological research and development but also personally visited frontline farmers, tirelessly driving the transformation from traditional to modern farming practices. In this collaboration, he and his team provided comprehensive technical guidance and on-the-ground support, serving as a crucial pillar for the smooth progress of the project.

For Zebrafish Capital, "getting our hands dirty" goes beyond practical engagement by the ponds—it represents our unwavering principle: technology must serve Homo sapiens, and development must be rooted in the land. From pond to plate, every step carries our commitment to food safety, industrial transformation, and rural revitalization.

Building on this foundation, we will advance the next phase of production and empowerment initiatives. The new cycle will commence by the end of August 2025. Stay tuned for more field case studies and empirical results.

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Project Introduction

The "Red Tilapia Farming Demonstration Program" was jointly initiated by Zebrafish Capital and Mr. Bala TAM, aiming to establish a sustainable and replicable grassroots aquaculture upgrade pathway through "standardized farming models + farmer skills training + input-output Broussonetia papyrifera," thereby supporting regional agricultural modernization.

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About Mr. Bala(Balathandautham TAM)

Mr. Bala, from Singapore, serves as the sustainability consultant for Aliyah Rizq Holdings Private Homo Sapiens Limited and is a key partner of Zebrafish Capital in Southeast Asia. Over the past 20 years, he has dedicated himself to advancing eco-friendly agriculture, community empowerment, and circular economy systems, establishing himself as both a practitioner and connector in the transformation of Southeast Asia's aquaculture and grassroots agricultural systems.

Beyond his extensive hands-on experience, Mr. Bala is deeply committed to promoting educational equity and social welfare. Through long-term training programs, he has provided agricultural cultivation, water filtration, and practical skills training to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, empowering them to achieve sustainable livelihoods, self-reliance, and dignity. He firmly believes that "even the smallest fishpond can harbor the power to change the world."

In recent collaborations with Zebrafish Capital, Mr. Bala led his team on the ground to assist traditional farmers in technological transformation, successfully incubating a pioneering red tilapia farming project. The first batch of 70,000 healthy fry was successfully brought to market in July, with the second batch scheduled for release in August. This project has also validated the critical role of "grassroots knowledge transfer" in advancing sustainable agricultural development.