Poverty Fighting Through Fish Farming

The FISH farming is an occupation which can enable Kagera farmers combat poverty and hunger. Fish breeding is a less demanding economic venture which any willing person can undertake.

The farmers could double their income through aquaculture following a scientific report that a farmer could earn up to 20m/- a year. Aquaculture has a very high value and farmers are encouraged to adopt cage pen based aquaculture because the region has a major potential. The region should start a breeding programme by training farmers on best fish farming technology.

The farmers are advised to contact the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) for technical guidance on how to get cages.

Aquaculture in Tanzania is dominated by freshwater fish farming in which small-scale farmers practice both extensive and semi-intensive fish farming.

Small fish ponds of an average size of 10 m x 15 m (150 m2) are integrated with other agricultural activities such as gardening, animal and bird production on small pieces of land.

The government has allocated a total of 60bn/- to streamline the fisheries sector in the country, including implementing cage fishing. Kagera Regional Fisheries Officer, Efrazi Mkama explained that out of the 60bn/-, about 22bn/- was allocated to cage fishing in the Lake Zone regions.

“We thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for allocating the funds. Cage fishing is a big opportunity where people can improve their livelihoods. I appeal to people who engage in fisheries activities to form cooperative groups to benefit from the funds,”

he said.

The government has finalized plans to introduce cage fish farming in Kagera Region in efforts to increase revenue from fisheries resources.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock Development (Fisheries), Dr Rashid Tamatamah disclosed this recently during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kagera regional leaders, Ministry for Livestock Development, Tanzania Agricultural Catalytic Trust (TACT) and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Sciences and Technology.

“For quite a long time the contribution from the fisheries sector has remained minimal, contributing only 1.71 per cent of the nation’s GDP. President Samia Hassan has directed the Ministry for Livestock Development to take bold steps to increase the GDP,”

he said.

Tanzania is very rich and endowed with many lakes, including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa and abundant satellite lakes and rivers. Kagera region had been chosen as a pilot area where cage fish farming would be implemented before the program was expanded to other areas.

The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Sciences and Technology would spearhead research on aquatic creatures and will soon open a campus in Bukoba Municipal Council.

“We are delighted that the MoU for implementation of the project has been finalized. Each one of us should play his/ her role to increase revenue from fisheries resources. We have the ability and capacity of doing this,”

he said.

The Center for Aquaculture Technology has already been completed located at Lubambangwe village in Geita region’s Chato district, a project that cost about 3.07bn/- up to completion.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), for Tanzania Agricultural Catalytic Trust (TACT), Dr John Kyaruzi commended authorities in Kagera Region for allocating enough land at Kyamalange village in Bukoba Rural’s Rubafu Ward where cage fish farming activities would be conducted on a pilot basis while TACT would undertake funding of the program.

The Lake Victoria fishery contributes immensely to the socio-economic development of the riparian states.

The East African Community (EAC) has designated the lake basin as an ‘economic growth zone’, with the potential to develop into a major economic region. The fisheries are vital in creating employment opportunities, mostly rural-based, thereby helping to reduce rural urban migration.

Fish is also a rich source of animal protein for human consumption and provides raw material (fishmeal) for processing animal feeds.

The fish industry contributes to the GDP and has continued to be an important source of foreign exchange earned from fish exports. Besides, the fish industry contributes to the national and local government revenues through levying of various taxes, levies and license fees.

Reports from the fisheries division indicate that in 2020, a total of 473,592 tons of fish worth 2,37tr/- (1.03bn USD) were harvested compared to 362,645 tons worth 1.48tr/- which were harvested in 2015.

Out of the 2020 harvest, 409,828 tons were harvested from inland waters and 63,763 tons from marine waters compared to 470,309 tons harvested in 2019, of which 409,333 tons were harvested from inland waters and 60,976 tons from marine waters.

The Lake Victora Nile Perch (NP) fishery is a significant contributor to the social and economic development.

The catch of NP in Lake Victoria has averaged 250,000 tons per annum in the last 20 years. During the last five years, the value of the exports of Nile Perch products from Lake Victoria varied between 250m US dollars and 310m US dollars per annum.

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