The Chronicle Newspaper (Lilongwe)
Maggie Laita
28 October 2005
Lilongwe — Fishermen in the country are to benefit from a K1.3 billion Lake Malawi Artisanal Fisheries Development Project, initiated by the Ministry of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment to boost the dwindling fish production in the country.
The project, to run for four years, will be implemented under four components of Fish Production and Marketing Development, Credit Delivery, Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening and Project Management.
Among other things, the Fish Production and Marketing Development component will enable project beneficiaries procure new plank boats and ancillary equipment like boat engines and making plants.
The project will also construct landing sites along the five districts to enable fishermen secure clean landing areas for their fish and ice cold room and storage facilities will be installed in four major centres of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu, that will allow fishermen and traders to store and maintain fresh fish.
Addressing the press in Lilongwe recently, Minister of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment Henry Chimunthu Banda said the project has been in initiated to improve the standard of living of the rural community through sustainable development of natural resources for income generation following the fish stock assessment studies that reveal that there is potential to catch 40,000 metric tones more fish annually from lake Malawi's deeper waters.
The studies show that over-fishing near the shores is due to the problem of lack of resources that makes fishermen fail to expand their activities further inside the lake. "Small scale fisheries is one of the most important economic sub-sectors of the country so support to the sub-sector will therefore enhance the welfare of part of the population engaged in the fisheries industry and contribute to enhancing food and nutritional security in the country," said Chimunthu Banda.
Banda further said that resources will be provided for training of frontline staff and beneficiaries and office equipment for district fisheries and forestry offices for extension work.
The districts of Mangochi, Salima, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay and Likoma are the first five districts the project has started with. Over 50,000 (fifty thousand) beneficiaries are expected when the project is fully implemented.
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