Govt pumps $50m into fish industry

President Edgar Lungu has revealed that government is investing 50 million dollars in developing the fish industry in the country.

President Lungu says the program is being implemented in partnership with the Africa Development Bank.

He says government through the Ministry of agriculture and Livestock is supporting initiatives aimed at supporting small holder farmers to increase their productivity and market access in areas such as fish farming.

President Lungu says the Minister of Agriculture has been challenged to ensure that significant investment is channeled toward increasing the country’s fish production.

Officially opening the Yalelo Fish Farming Facility in Siavonga this morning, Mr. Lungu noted that the project has come at a right time when he recently issued a statement on the need for Zambia to significantly increase its investment in fish production.

He is delighted that the company with 275 employees has targeted to increase its daily fish production to 15 metric tones in the next three months from the current 5 metric tones.

And Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda says it is sad that Zambia keeps on bragging about having 40 percent of the waters in SADC and plenty of rainfall yet has not taken advantage to produce fish and meet the national demand.

He says the Ministry has made progress in increasing fish production in the past five years and is still implementing more projects to increase fisheries.

And Yalelo Board Chairman Adam Taylor says his company is setting trends in global fish farming as it has the largest fish farming cages on the globe.

Mr. Taylor has since appealed to government to improve the road network in the area as part of promoting more commercial fish farmers in Siavonga.

And Yalelo Director Fisho Mwale has attributed the success of the company to support from the Bagande Chiefdom under Chief Simamba of Siavonga District.