Fish farmers in Serere district are in early international fisheries day celebrations following the decision by the Government to support them with fingerlings worth sh40m on top of three fish pounds constructed at the cost of sh30m.
Akures fish farmers located in Kamusala sub-county Thursday, November 24, received 47,000 fingerlings from the state minister for fisheries, Hellen Adoa.
The donation comes hours into the international fisheries day that Serere district is hosting for the first time.
This is in line with the government’s plans of prioritizing aquaculture to save swarms that have been highly degraded by human activity of rice growing.
“Fish farming is more paying as compared to rice growing because, in an acre of rice, a farmer gets only sh800,000 whereas one fish pound sitting in one acre fetches a farmer in one harvest sh5m,” said Charles Oberu, the principal fish officer in the ministry of agriculture.
The community of Kateta who have been engaged in fish farming in which they own over 30 fish pounds informed the fisheries minister that they are not going to rice growing anymore.
“Rice farming is costly and requires more energy as compared to fish farming. The market is available where customers follow us,” Patrick Olupot, the chairman of fish farmers said.
Minister Adoa rallied people in Teso to join fish farming because it can easily get them out of poverty.
“Fish farming can support us by paying school fees for our children and our wellbeing. Let us utilize our swamps for fish ponds,” Adoa said.
The fishing sector contributes 4% to the National GDP and is the second largest export product for Uganda after coffee.
The celebrations shall be held under the theme, Promoting fish farming for improved household incomes.
