Addressing fish farmers during a one-day fish farmer's forum organised by the Danish Development Agency (Danida) in Kampala on July 10, the Head of Aquaculture Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Dr Wilson Mwanja said the future of fish farming is very "bright."
"The future for aquaculture is bright. It is demand driven. The only disadvantage is that it is private sector-led," he said.
Referred to as aquaculture, the dramatic growth has been attributed to the empowerment of the private sector and unfolding market opportunities. This has turned the sector into a huge potential for investment.
On the national perspective, Dr Mwanja said the national production of fish now stands at 440,000 metric tonnes annually. He said most of the fish catch comes from Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, which produce on average 250,000 tonnes annually, 180,000 tonnes from Lake Victoria and about 75,000 tonnes from Lake Kyoga.
Uganda: Fish Farming Up By 140 Percent
UGANDA - Fish farming considered a pastime venture, has now grown by 140 per cent from 285 tonnes in 1999 to an estimated 40,000 tonnes in 2006, an official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has said.