Government has urged the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to extend its fish farming project to other Provinces with abundant water resources.

Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Agriculture and Livestock Specialist Mr Hector Hamusankwa has implored the Service to work on replicating what he referred to as “the working ZNS Chanyanya fish-farming model” to areas with perennial water bodies to exponentially

increase fish production and help reduce the national fish deficit the country is currently grappling with. Mr Hamusankwa cited Lake Bangweulu, Lake Mweru, and the Luangwa River as potential locations where ZNS could establish fish farms.

He indicated that once implemented, the initiative will not only increase fish production but also improve food security and household nutrition in addition to creating enhanced economic opportunities in peri-urban and rural regions.

Mr Hamusankwa said this during the PDU visit to Chanyanya led by Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Mr Norman Chipakupaku who was accompanied by his Cabinet Office counterpart, Professor Lackson Kasonka. “If you can replicate this model in other Provinces that are endowed with water bodies, the country will enhance fish production through ZNS, which will effectively complement the

efforts being made by private players. The country is currently relying on fish imports to meet the national fish demand, so it's crucial to bridge this gap and help to significantly stem foreign exchange outflow and job losses,” he said.

Mr Hamusankwa said Government is ready to assist the Service in expanding fish farming in line with the President's vision of enhancing the lives of Zambians through fish farming.

He stated that fish farming not only enhances the nutritional value for people but also serves as an avenue for job creation.

And Defence Permanent Secretary Mr Norman Chipakupaku has expressed delight at the performance of the ZNS fish project and called on Chanyanya to expand its hatchery for continuous production of fingerlings.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted that fish farming was among the profitable ventures that Zambians could consider undertaking.

“I am pleased to note that the Unit is re-invested its profits in purchasing equipment for expansion of the project and also contributing to job creation,” he said.

And Professor Kasonka has advised ZNS Chanyanya to expand its onion farming due to the considerable profits being recorded, highlighting that increased production could lead to even greater financial returns.

In his remarks Chief of Livestock Brigadier General Mutandalike Choonga said that the Service is already on course to expand the fish farming project at its Chanyanya farm from the current 23 to 300 hectares of fish ponds by 2031.

Meanwhile, ZNS Chanyanya Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Davy Shula stated that the Unit currently has a stock of over 734,000 fish, nearly ready for harvest with half of the fingerlings produced within the Unit.

The Unit has since expanded its hatcheries both indoor and outdoor to a production capacity of about 409,225 fingerlings, at a given time.