ASSOCIATION PLEADS FOR EXTENSION OF LOAN REPAYMENT PERIOD

THE Small Scale Fish Farmers Association (SSFFA) has pleaded with the Citizens Economic em powerment Commission (CEEC) to consider extending the period for repayment of loans acquired under the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP).

SSFFA chairperson Victor Chatilika said the extension will allow small scale fish farmers who benefited from the loan facility un der the project to have more time to pay back.

He said this will also result in government failing to realize the objective of the project which is to advance the aquaculture subsector as a viable and inclusive business opportunity through enhanced production and improved liveli hoods of beneficiaries in the fish value chain.

He explained that benefiting farmers in all the Aquaculture high potential zones in Siavonga,

Chipepo, Bangwelu, Kasempa, Rufunsa and Mungwi, are finding it difficult to meet their loan obli gation because many of them ac quired their equipment at a very exorbitant price.

Mr Chatilika also said most of the farmers are failing to pay towards loan liquidation because of the negative effects of Covid 19 in sec ond and third waves which affected not only the cost of fish feed but also fingerings.

Through the US$29 million Aquaculture Seed Fund under the

Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP), government through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has empow ered over 3,000 entrepreneurs along the fish value chain in all the 10 provinces of Zambia. The project financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) which is running for five years, from 2017 to December, 2022 is expected to con tribute to the country’s economic growth as well as provide food and nutrition security in Zambia.