By PETER SICHALI
THERE is need for more fish feed production to grow the aquaculture industry, a fish farmer Collins Chongo has said.
He said the prices of fish feed in the country were high due to limited number of fish feed producers.
Mr Chongo said it was difficult to grow the aquaculture sector with the current prices of fish feed stock.
“There is high demand for fish and Zambia has great potential to be a major exporter of fish in the region but that can only be realised if high prices of feed are controlled,” Mr Chongo said.
He said there was need for feed producers to increase fish feed production to lower the prices.
Mr Chongo said Government should come up with deliberate policy of zero-rating import duty on fish feed manufacturing equipment.
“Government should come up with deliberate policies that would support setting up on fish feed production industries,” he said.
Mr Chongo, who is a beneficiary of Multisectoral Youth Empowerment Fund, has commended Government for the empowerment initiative.
He has since constructed and stocked 15 fish ponds, started a food processing and poultry farming and created nine permanent jobs for other youths.
Mr Chongo, who got a K70, 000 loan is ready to start paying back.
And Ministry of Youth Permanent Secretary, John Phiri, said he was impressed with the implementation of various youth empowerment projects in Luapula Province.
Dr Phiri advised youths who had not yet benefitted from the programme to apply so that they could venture into various income generating activities to create jobs and wealth.
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