The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has promised to eliminate the current fish deficit in the country in 3 years by 2026.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Makozo Chikote says the country still has a deficit of about 35 metric tons of fish based on 2022 estimates.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times –ZBT, Chikote said the ministry is putting up interventions to enhance production, and that if all the measures that are being worked on are put in place, Zambia will not have a fish deficit within the next two-three years.
He said to close up the gap, the ministry has introduced the aquaculture intervention, which includes supporting the farmers by providing them with affordable loans through the ZAEDP project. “Farmers have access to affordable loans ranging from K150,000 going upwards, and when it crosses the threshold of K500,000, that is when they would ask for collateral. This is one of the funds that is motivating our fish farmers to help them enhance production” said Chikote.
Chikote disclosed that several people have been trained in the field to ensure that they provide extension services to farmers for them to understand the latest interventions in aquaculture, and make fish farming a business. He added that the ministry is trying to work on reducing the cost of feed, as it has been a challenge in the aquaculture sector.
He further disclosed that fingerling production is another challenging issue noting that for those in Kivuku of North Western Province to get fingerlings, they have to go as far as Copperbelt. “So to transport the fingerlings from Copperbelt to North Western sometimes is a big challenge for our farmers. We are trying to address this by introducing the Aqua pack that we have put in place to facilitate our farmers to have these requirements they need to go into aquaculture” said Chikote.
He said the ministry is looking forward to collaborating with cooperating partners to be able to put up hatcheries. He said hatcheries need to be put up in all potential areas for farmers to be able to access fingerlings.
Chikote also mentioned that the ministry is trying to ensure that the private sector comes on board by producing fish feed at an affordable price. He said if all these measures are implemented and put in place, Zambia will in the next two to three years not have a fish deficit, but instead discussions will be around Zambia being a net exporter of fish.
The Minister also urged fish farmers to tap into the opportunities the government is creating. “Issues to do with the loans of ZAEDP, although this ZAEDP project is winding up in December 2023, we will continue with the revolving fund, because the money that we have given our farmers will be put in a basket as a revolving fund. We want our farmers first of all to take opportunity, to learn, and to understand what is it that they are required of for them to be fish farmers” said Chikote.
He has said the government will always try to make sure that a conducive environment is created for the farmers to excel in the sector.
