By Tiyese Monjeza:
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Usi has said the government is contemplating introducing fish mega farms to enhance exports.
Usi said the government is planning to introduce the fish mega farms at Kasinthula Aquaculture Centre in Chikwawa, before introducing other farms across the country.
He made the remarks on Tuesday at Domasi Aquaculture Centre in Zomba, where he appreciated interventions taken at the facility to increase fish production.
“We have the natural resources which will ably attract investors in fish farming. Kasinthula will be a model mega fish farm where we want to produce more local fish species which, we believe, can be exported and generate forex,’’ Usi said.
He, however, did not indicate a period for rolling out the project.
But he said the government is committed to investing in fish farming as outlined in the National Aquaculture Strategic Plan and the Malawi 2063.
The country projects to produce 24,000 metric tonnes of fish by 2023.
“We can learn from the Philippines which, despite being limited on resources, has drastically increased its annual fish production,’’ Usi said.
Domasi Aquaculture Centre Station Manager Titus Phiri said the centre is engaging farmers to equip them with good fish farming practices.
“We are sharing skills with farmers and providing them with fish species as a means of improving fish farming to reduce the pressure on lakes and rivers.
“On the introduction of fish mega farms, we have the capacity to help in the establishment of these farms,” Phiri said.
