Mzimba fish farmers get equipment

Fish farmers in Mzimba South have commended M’Mbelwa District Council for supporting them with equipment for constructing ponds.

The equipment include wheelbarrows, bags of lime, pipes, shovels, picks and buckets.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, one of the farmers Rose Ndawandawa from Champhinga in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kampingo Sibande said the items will help them in constructing ponds.

“My pond was small and the equipment will help me to enlarge it so that I can raise more fish to maximise my income,” she said.

Another farmer, Dan Mhone from Chikangawa in T/A Kampingo Sibande also said he is enlarging his fish pond, courtesy of the equipment donated by the council.

“I received the materials and K295 000 to boost my fish farming business. Now I am taking fishing business seriously as it has the potential to transform my life,” he said.

Mzimba district fisheries officer Andrew Saukani said 30 farmers received equipment and money to help them boost their fishing business.

“We hope that people in their surrounding areas will be able to buy fish from them. The aim is to help reduce stunting among children in the district,” he said.

M’Mbelwa District Council nutrition officer Gift Simkonda urged the farmers to produce more fish for their communities.

The donation is part of Afikepo’s Performance-Based Incentives Programme funded through Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Afikepo ran a project that meant to boost nutrition among communities in Mzimba.

Mzimba was awarded a K40 million grant from CRS for emerging second best in nutrition interventions under Afikepo Project.