Aquaculture for all

Uganda: Government to Encourage Fish Farming

UGANDA - Fish farming could become the mainstay of the economy and source of income for the rural folk within three years, the minister of state for fisheries, Fred Mukisa, has said.

"Within three years, you will see a revolution in the fish farming industry," Mukisa said during a tour of two fish and rice farming projects in Mazimasa sub-county, Butaleja district.

Minister without potrfolio Dorothy Hyuha accompanied Mukisa during the tour of Lwoba Out-growers Irrigation Project, owned by Ahmed Naleba and Kanyanya Integrated Rice and Fish Farming Project, owned by Wedi Mageyo.

In addition to provision of aquaculture extension services to farmers, the minister said breeding units wou1d be established at regional, districts and county levels to enable farmers improve yields and fish quality.

Mukisa said the Government would inject funds into fish farming to make it a commercial venture.

He said Egypt used the River Nile to become Africa's leading fish farming country, with an annual output of 600,000 metric tonnes yet Uganda, with abundant water sources, only produces 25 metric tonnes of fish from farming.

"Egypt keeps reminding us not to divert River Nile waters. They diverted the water through the Suez Canal to Sinai Desert where it is used for fish farming," Mukisa said.

He said the Government could no longer plan for lake fish resources since it is free for all.

Source: All Africa

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