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Uganda: Fish Farming, Country's Untapped Treasure
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New Vision (Kampala)
22 October 2007
Posted to the web 24 October 2007
Joshua Kato
Kampala
As the number of fish in Lake Victoria continues to dwindle, Ugandans can now start thinking of making a fortune from fish farming. According to fishermen and fisheries authorities, all the major fish species; Nile perch and the tilapia are getting slimmer. Fish prices on the local markets have gone up drastically. Fish is mainly got from five large lakes; Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and George.
Fish farming or aquaculture, if taken seriously, can reduce the pressure on the lakes.
A country like Israel does not have many lakes but is among the world's leading fish exporters, with 85% of their fish exports coming from private fish farms.
Several efforts are being made to promote fish farming in the country. The Government, non-governmental organisations and international bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have helped set up fish farms in Arua, Koboko, Lira and Gulu districts.
Individuals have also set up ponds across the country. The species reared include tilapia, mirror cup and cat fish. However, these efforts are yet to develop into fully fledged commercial fish farming.
There is still very little awareness about fish farming across the country. According to Dr Lucas Ndawula, the deputy director of National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NAFIRRI), this lack of awareness mars the benefits of an otherwise profitable sector.
Ndawula says the aquaculture sector is also affected by the lack of quality fish breeds. Many farmers across the country find problems getting quality fish fries.
Digo Tugumisirize, one of the leading fish farmers in the country says he approached Kajjansi fisheries for fish fries and they could only provide 1,000," he says. Tugumisirize owns Sunfish Farms Ltd, a vast fish farm near Kajjansi.
"There are also inadequate extension services for fish farming," Ndawula says. Most of the extension workers in the country are trained in crop and animal husbandry, not aquaculture.
Limited access to credit for fish farmers is another problem that has forced fish farming to lag behind. "Very few financial institutions are willing to lend money to fish farmers because of uncertainty on the outcome of the business," Ndawula explains.
Yet, these limitations aside, fish farming can be practised on a piece of land that may not be suitable for other types of work.
The land should be flat, with a dependable water source.
There are mainly two types of ponds: The embankment ponds and the excavated ponds. "Excavated ponds are built by constructing a wall across a narrow valley," says an official from Uganda National Farmers Association.
Excavated ponds are the commonest and most recommended countrywide. The pond should have a water inlet and outlet. The sides of the pond should be covered by fertile soils. Feeding the fish is not a big problem since most of them feed on plant.
The overall expense includes hiring people or a tractor to dig the ponds and then buying the fish fries.
According to officials, a standard 25 by 50 fish pond should hold at least 600 fish fries. A fish fry costs between sh100 and 200.
This means 600 fries cost at least sh0.6m.
Tugumisirize spent over sh50m, but this is a large farm, with more than ten 50 by 100 ponds and several hatcheries. Experience has shown that organised groups in a sub-county can excavate a standard pond in a few weeks.
In Gulu district, groups of 30 to 40 members have managed to dig several ponds. "We dug the ponds and FAO helped us get fish fries," says one farmer. For an average one or two ponds farmer, sh2m is enough to begin with. Between six and nine months, the fish is ready for harvesting.
In many parts of the country, there are man-made water sources that are not used for intensive fishing farming. In Ssembabule district, for example, there are several ponds in Ntusi.
In Nakaseke, there an unutilised pond.
In Lubaga division in Kampala, the Kabaka's lake can be a source of fish. According to officials in the Buganda Government, there are plans to start fish farming on the lake.
In Teso, Lango and Acholi, there are so many swamps that can be used for fish farming.
Fish farmers have got several groups, including Walimi Fish Cooperative Society Limited (WAFICOS). In this group membership is ordinary and open to all stake holders.
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According to WAFICOS official, Tom Musoke, although ponds are being created in large numbers across the country, many of them are still used for domestic fish consumption. "The task now is to bring them up to a level where they can produce fish for the markets," Musoke says.
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