FISH makes up 40 percent of annual protein in the diet of Zambians. The direct benefits of fish as a source of food of high nutritional value cannot be overemphasised.
The current estimates for annual fish production is about 70,000 tonnes, while the estimated national demand stands at 120,000 tonnes indicating a deficit of 50,000 tonnes.
And according to the Fisheries Department, from the 1970s to 1980s the per capita consumption of fish in Zambia was 12 kilogrammes per person per annum. However, recent estimates show a drop in the per capital consumption to 7 kilogrammes per person per annum.
The drop in the per capita consumption has been attributed to the decline in fish stocks in some fisheries as a result of excessive fishing and use of bad fishing methods as well as an increase in demand due to increased human population.
The increase in demand has no doubt resulted in the increase in fishing pressure which is prompting fishermen to employ environmentally-harmful methods of capturing fish.
While the Department of Fisheries has put in place measures to sustain fish resources in our natural water bodies such as an annual fish ban which runs from December 1 to February 28, there’s need to promote fish farming as way of supplementing natural water bodies in providing fish as a source of animal proteins.
Looking at the deficit between the production and consumption which stands at 50,000 tonnes, there’s room for fish farming to flourish in Zambia.
We would, therefore, like to commend government for working towards promoting fish farming in the country.
According to Mwansabombwe district commissioner Victor Kasuba, Government has just engaged experts from Bangladesh to train local people in fish farming and mango processing.
Considering that one of the major long standing constraints in fish farming has been lack of comprehensive training packages and materials, the move will therefore empower more local people to venture into fish farming and successfully so.
It is, however, hoped that this training will not only be confined to residents of Mwansabombwe but should be spread to other parts of the country to benefit those who are already in fish farming or those planning on starting.
According to the Department of Fisheries, currently there are about 6,000 small-scale farmers operating over 13,000 fish ponds through the country. At the same time, 16 large commercial farmers have taken up the activity on the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Southern provinces.
But these only account for about 5,000 tonnes of the 70,000 tonnes of fish produced annually.
Going by the precariousness of the food security situation in many parts of our country, fish farming would definitely help in improving animal protein supply, especially among the vulnerable in rural areas.
Fish farming has the potential to contribute to the country’s economy through generation of employment, income and consequently poverty-reduction.
As government endeavours to promote fish farming, it should go a step further to raise the scale of operations by attracting corporate investment into the sector as a way of realising full potential.
We implore citizens and especially young people to take the deficit in fish production as a business opportunity and invest in the sector.
With the Youth Development Fund in place there’s no excuse for the youth to languish.
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Investing in fish farming
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