By OLIVER SAMBOKO
GOVERNMENT should allow farmers to export at least 20 percent of their fish production to the regional market to raise the much needed foreign currency for procurement of equipment, a fish farmers association has proposed.
The Small-Scale Fish Farmers Association, through its chairperson Mr Victor Chatilika said most small-scale farmers are forced to use poor quality locally manufactured steel fish cages because they cannot afford the high quality HDPE pipes which can be imported from South Africa.
Mr Chatilika said while it’s appreciated that the government’s intention is to close the gap of fish deficit in the country which stands at over 80, 000mt, allowing farmers to export some of their fish, is not a bad idea because it will result in farmers affording to import equipment without depending on local suppliers who are overpricing their products.
“Allowing us to export some of the fish we produce, is not a bad idea because it will result in most farmers to afford to import equipment without depending on local suppliers who are overpricing their products, which otherwise we can import from the SADC market particularly from South Africa,” he said.
He said once the fish farmers have the right equipment and right price, production in the subsector will automatically go up, which will support the government’s goal of reducing import of fish from Asia and other markets.
Mr Chatilika also said once this is achieved, the country will be self-sustainable in terms of fish needs and able to export the surplus.
He said allowing the fish farmers to export some of their production will enable the players in the aquaculture subsector earn forex which they can use to import equipment cheaply from South African manufacturers.
Mr Chatilika said despite Government zero rating import of some equipment used in fish farming, importers have not passed that benefit to the farmers.
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