The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat has commended the Zambian government for initiating investment programmes in the aquaculture and fisheries sub sector that have contributed to the significant growth of the industry.
SADC Manager for the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE), MOTSEKI HLATSHWAYO says the investments such as the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP) that was implemented from 2017 to 2023, have attracted several players in the aquaculture sector.
Mr. HLATSHAYO says the PROFISHBLUE programme is considering replicating the 50.8 MILLION DOLLARS ZAEDP investment model in the SADC region to grow the sector and reduce the fish deficit which is currently estimated at 1.8 million metric tons.
Mr. HLATSWAYO was speaking at the commissioning of a mini fish processing facility in Lusaka’s Meanwood Kwamena area constructed by a small and medium entrepreneur under the SADC PROSFISHBULE Project.
And Director of Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock EVANS MUTANUKA says the project is building capacity of fish value chain communities and facilitating inter regional trade for a number of small and medium enterprises.
In a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Director in charge of Aquaculture, MBAMWAI MBEWE, Mr. MUTANUKA says the processing facility will open more opportunities for national, regional and international markets.
Meanwhile, the proprietor of the facility PAMELA MUKOMA says she has spent over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KWACHA to set up the mini fish processing facility.
Ms. MUKOMA says the facility is capable of processing fish of international standards and thanked PROFISHBLUE and WORLDFISH for building capacity and connecting her to regional markets.
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