Luanar for partnerships to boost fish production
Deputy vice-chancellor of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) Professor Emmanuel Kaunda says partnerships within the aquaculture value chain are key to boosting the fish business in the country.
Speaking during the launch of an Agriculture Technology Transfer (AgriTT) in Mangochi yesterday, Kaunda, who is also national coordinator for New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) Fish-Node, said knowledge sharing and working together might just be the last resort the country has in saving fish.
Despite that fish production in Malawi grew from 800 to 3 000 metric tonnes from 2005 to 2011, Kaunda said he believes the figure is still low and more needs to be done.
He also said a boost in the fish sector could also trigger a positive result in malnutrition levels, including stuntedness which is currently over 40 percent.
Kaunda said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 14 kilogrammes (kg) of fish per person per annum, but in Malawi consumption stands at five kg, a development that contributes to stunted growth.
Deputy director of Fisheries Steve Donda agreed that partnerships are indeed key.
According to him, universities have academic understanding on research, while governments have the powers to move and enforce laws.
The AgriTT is one of the first trilateral cooperarions programmes on agriculture technology transfer between the United Kingdom’s Department for International Department (DfID), the Chinese government and countries in Africa to improve food security through technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
