Remove aquaculture restrictions, govt urged

THERE is urgent need for removal of all restrictions hindering the growth of the aquaculture development in the country, the Small-Scale Fish Farmers Association has demanded.

The association’s chairperson, Mr Victor Chatilika said in an interview that it’s hypocritical for Government to continue implementing prohibitive policies on aquaculture and on the other hand encouraging farmers to expand fish production.

He said the only way the country can attain its goal of becoming a net exporter of fish is by ensuring that effective policies that promote the subsector are put in place.

“If as a country we are serious with narrowing the fish deficit gap, there is need to put pronouncements into action but as things stand now, the gap will continue widening,” he said.

Mr Chatilika said as long as farmers in seven out of the 10 provinces are excluded from growing hybrid Tilapia, the dream of scaling up fish production in the country will only remain on paper.

He called for dialogue over the matter to find a lasting solution.

He said because of the restrictions on growing of hybrid Tilapia, a number of who acquired loans from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission will not be able to pay back their loans.

Mr Chatilika said it’s said that the country is losing over K3.5 billion annually in fish imports due to the restrictive policy and at a time when it had a deficit of fish of over 70, 000 metric tons.

Currently, only fish farmers in three regions, Southern, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces are allowed to grow hybrid Tilapia to the exclusion of other seven provinces.