US$500K fisheries project launched
THE fisheries and aquaculture sector is set for a major transformation following the injection of US$500 000 aimed at boosting the production of fingerlings, which will improve the quality and quantity of fish produced, enhance food and nutrition security while generating income for many people.
In line with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Strategy, the funding will cater for the construction and refurbishment of fish ponds, sourcing of brood stock, setting up of biosecurity systems, staff capacity building together with reviewing of the current fisheries legal frameworks, and production of hatchery management policy guidelines.
The programme is expected to increase fingerling production in the country from about 100 000 to 3,9 million annually at Government fisheries units.
Added to that, the projects further targets to improve livelihoods in different communities through improved income and nutrition, creation of employment and capacitation of mainly women and youths.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the Technical Cooperation Programme officially launched the US$500 000 technical support in Bulawayo yesterday.
A ground-breaking ceremony was done at the Matopos Research Station breeding site, paving the way for the establishment of 10 fish ponds with six of them being breeding ponds and four being resting ponds.
The main purpose of the project is to boost the production of fingerlings geared at improving the quality and quantity of fish.
With the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project, the ministry said this will allow the country to rehabilitate, maintain and establish breeding sites and brood stocks, which will improve access to quality fingerlings at an affordable price to farmers.
At the moment, the ministry has few breeding sites, with some of them at zero percent capacity. Amongst the sites is Matopos Research, which is set to benefit from the project.
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