NAADS begins distribution of fish materials worth UGX 1.7BN to farmers across the country
NAADS has begun the distribution of fish fingerings and fish feeds to farmers across the country as one of the initiatives to boost fish production.
Since 2015, NAADS has supported the fish sector by promoting aquaculture (rearing fish in ponds) to provide an alternative source of fish in the country. The intervention follows an increase in Uganda’s population and high upshot of fish processing plants for export which have left the natural stocks dwindled to alarming levels.
In the current Financial Year 2021/22, Government allocated sh.1.7 billion to NAADS to procure fish fingerings and fish feeds for distribution to farmers as one of the initiatives to promote fish production, nutrition and also curb illegal fishing on Uganda’s lakes.
Over three million fish fingerings and 108,084 kilograms of fish feeds are to be distributed to farmers through the local governments in over 100 districts that have prioritize aquaculture. 2,180,000 fingerings are for tilapia, 40,000 for mirror cap while 990,000 are for cat fish.
Dr. Thomas Nsemeriirwe, the NAADS Livestock Development Officer says distribution of the fish materials has started with Kabarole district where Government is implementing a cage fish farming project on the crater lakes under the Presidential Initiative on Agro Industrialization for local economic development (AGRILED) in the Rwenzori Region.
“We have distributed 90,000 fish fingerings and 10,000 kilograms of fish feeds to the farmers engaged in cage fish farming on the crater lakes in Kabarole district. We completed the installation of the cages and now farmers have received the fingerings and feeds to start production”, explains Dr. Nsemeriirwe.
Aquaculture presents the major alternative to natural water bodies in as far as fish production is concerned. Uganda produces up to 15,000 tons of fish from aquaculture, including production from small-scale fish farmers, emerging commercial fish farmers and stocked community water reservoirs and minor lakes. There are an estimated 20,000 ponds throughout the country with an average surface area of 500 m² per fish pond.
Through NAADS, government provides inputs for support under the aquaculture enterprise. The support is in form of fish fingerings and start-up fish feeds.
Am interested also in fish farming how can i be helped because have already the ponds
I am a fish farmer, how do I get the fingerings
Am amale youth in Nakaseke district, who has invested some money out of my savings in to fish farming,I currently have one pond and hoping to establish more, how can I join this program?
We are a community based organisation based at Bukasa Ssese we are in the process ofstarting fish farming on the water streams and springs in the area. We need technical support and advise
Iam MAATE COSITA NGAHANGONDI chairperson bunyangule central youth group and a fish farming group with 3 ponds in sindila subcounty bundibugyo district , how can we find the startup feeds.
Aquaculture and apiary akey to environmental conservation
Am fish farmer I have incompletef modern fish pond of concrete how can I be helped
Ampreparing this pond to keep catfish it’s 18mx4x1.5 it only needs finishing and a pump to pump water from my nearby old pond how can I be helped