Joyce Namugambe
Fish farmers in Uganda expressed concern over the ever increasing prices of fish feeds which is affecting their businesses as they can nolonger afford to buy the feeds for their fish, which affects their output.
During the training for fish farmers, extension workers, and others in the industry, which took place at Mukono Zonal agricultural research institute, a fisheries officer from Mayuge district local government Saviour Akunzi mentioned that due to the high prices of fish feeds, some farmers have resorted to using fish feeds that are not proper for the fish since they can nolonger buy the right products for the fish.
The senior lecturer in the department of Zoology, Entomology and fisheries sciences Dr. Jackson Efitre expressed concern over some fish farmers who use posho to feed fish due to high costs of fish feeds. He warns that posho doesnot contain enough nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates needed for the fish to grow.
Dr. Efitre encouraged fish farmers to get involved in the project called “Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture in Uganda (PESCA)” supported by the European Union which aims at improving the skills and knowledge of those involved in aquaculture. The project is a response to declining fish stocks in Uganda’s natural waters and the need to increase fish production through aquaculture. According to Dr. Jackson, Uganda needs more than 1.7 million metric tonnes of fish, with 750,000 metric tonnes expected from natural waters and the rest from aquaculture.
Another lecturer from the College of Natural Sciences, Dr Gladys Bwanika advised farmers to make use of the available ready markets through shifting from subsistance to commercial fish farming sothat they can be able to earn more money to buy the proper fish feeds. She encouraged them to organize as registered business entities, as commercial aquaculture must adhere to the law.
This training was organized by Makerere University College of Natural Sciences, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, and with support from the European Union.
