Robert Muhereza
4 November 2009
Kabale — The government is in the final stages of leasing out small lakes to local fish farmers, the Minister of Agriculture has said.
Ms Hope Mwesigye said this is part of her ministry's bid to promote fish farming in the country.
She was on Monday addressing farmers benefiting from the National Agricultural Advisory Services programme at Rwamucucu Sub-county headquarters in Kabale District.
Criteria used
The minister did not, however, explain the criteria of leasing the lakes and the small water bodies. Western Uganda has the country's highest concentration of small lakes mainly created out of volcanic activity. Bushenyi alone has over 70 small lakes and Kabarole over 40.
"Due to scarcity and the increased prices of fish, my ministry is in the final stages of leasing out all the small lakes in the country to local fish farmers so as to increase fish production," Ms Mwesigye said, adding: "These local farmers shall also be trained in fish breeding and also supplying other farmers with fish ponds."
In order to boost fish farming, she pledged the government's support to farmers in form of digging of fish ponds in Kabale for all farmers interested in fish farming.
According to United Nations Industrial Development Organisation figures, fish export earnings to Uganda have increased from less than $1 million to approximately $60 million per annum in the last decade.
The national vision is to triple the value of fish exports and to increase domestic consumption significantly over the next 25 years.
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