Fish farmers to get modern facilities
Fish farmers in the Northern Region are set to get modern fish-processing facilities to improve efficiency in their business operations courtesy of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Project.
This follows calls from fish farming and processing cooperatives in the region for speedy construction of sanitary facilities in fishing beaches and selected points in the region.
Speaking on Friday in Chitipa District, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Project community development specialist Duncan Magwira assured the fish farmers, processor and trader cooperatives that the project will speed up construction of the facilities and allocation of purpose-built refrigerated fish van.
He said infrastructure such as solar-powered tent driers, smoking kilns and cold rooms will improve quality of fish products on the market.
Magwira said the implementation of such programmes fall within the National Fisheries and Aquaculture policy goals and the Malawi 2063 agenda which seek to create a wealthy and self-reliant nation.
Chitipa-based Polepole Fish Farming Club chairperson Kenneth Mtambo, while acknowledging increased fish production, bemoaned inadequate supply of quality chambo fingerlings and floating feeds.
On his part, Rumphi’s Mphalamawe Cage Fish Farming Clubsecretary Rymo Gondwe asked for cold rooms and proper transport for distribution of fresh fish to avert losses that arise due to spoilage and lack of value addition skills.
The Department of Fisheries, with funding from African Development Bank, is implementing a five-year Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Project to rehabilitate fish landing sites with modern facilities, support fish farming clubs and offer capacity building in various aspects to fish-based cooperatives
