By OLIVER SAMBOKO
A FISH Farming Association is disappointed that despite boasting of having abundant water resources in the Southern African region, the country has continued importing fish to the tune of over 80,000Mt annually.
Small Scale Fish Farmers Association (SSFFA) chairperson Victor Chatilika said it’s fact that fish diet accounts for about 40 percent of annual protein consumption among the population and therefore deliberate measures are needed to boost production.
Mr Chatilika said the Aquaculture sub-sector has potential to meet domestic demand, penetrate regional export markets and contribute significantly towards job creation and economic growth.
He said government should close all funding gaps to the aquaculture subsector to enable the country produce more and become fish self-sufficient.
Mr Chatilika said the Aquaculture subsector has been facing numerous challenges such as limited investment in fingerling and fish feed production which has resulted in the high cost of production.
He said apart from addressing funding constrains to the subsector, government should ensure that more fisheries officers are deployed to all parts of the country to help the small scale fish farmers benefit from extension services.
He said the aquaculture subsector alone has potential to alleviate poverty among the many citizens especially the youths and Women.
Mr Chatila observed that the country has produced about 95,000 metric tonnes of fish from its natural water bodies and only about 46,000MT through the aquaculture subsector, which he said, is very dismal, considering that the country has abundant water resources.
“Why should we as a country continue importing 80,000MT of fish when we are seating at 40 percent of water found in the region. So going forward, deliberate measures should be put in place so that we can start producing more not only for domestic consumption but also export market,” he said.
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