The ICT had plenty of sources of fish production including 11 fish farms and the Rawal and Simly dams, said the official.
However, according to statistics, these areas only yielded 35,000kg of fish in the last fiscal year, he said.
Despite the Japanese government's efforts to fund two water reservoirs in two villages where nine new private fish farms had been set up, the development of the area's aquaculture industry was still relatively slow.
The official lamented the low demand for fish in the country, which has so far hampered the development of aquaculture despite incentives given.
The official said that the application of modern fishing techniques could increase the yield per acre and that the government could create employment opportunities by improving the fish industry.
The official acknowledged that the Agricultural Development Bank do grant substantial loans to fish farmers. However, efforts need to be made to improve the fishery sector, he said.
To that end, a government 'fish seed hatchery project' that would produce 7.5 million fish seeds a year would be starting next year, the official said.
The project would reduce production cost, increase fish production and generate revenue through sale of the seeds to the private sector, he said.
Source: eFeedLink - 19th July 2006
