Rwamagana targets to produce 40 tonnes of fish

Rwamagana – Fish farming has gained momentum in Rwamanaga district, where at least 40 tonnes of fish harvest is expected annually.Speaking to The New Times Tuesday, the district Mayor, Nehemie Uwimana, said that two sectors of Musha and Fubwe were used as case studies for fish farming in ponds.The mayor said they have also laid strategies to ensure that Mugesera and Muhazi lakes are used optimally for fish production.The farming is supported by Inland Lakes Integrated Development and Management Support Project (PAIGELAC).“We were experiencing very low fish production of less than 20 tons per year...with the new farming system we shall produce at least 40 tons,” he said.“Fish farming is taking shape; we are witnessing a number of investors joining the sector. Local farmers are also slowly picking interest...so we expect to supply Kigali and big markets elsewhere with fish in the near future”.Mfashingabo Ntwali, who coordinates PAIGELAC activities in Eastern Province, confirmed the future increase of fish production.He noted that Rwanda was moving from traditional fish catching, to modern ways which will see the steady increase of fish production in the country.“We imported good quality Tilapia fish from Lake Albert...brooders that are of the type with known genetically good performance. In the beginning we feed them with high quality feeds from Israel,” he said.Ntwali however, said that at the beginning, modern fish farming met some challenges that derailed the trade.He said that average production per acre, was expected to increase up to 80 tons, depending on how modern farming methods are respected.“Traditional beliefs in Rwanda are our undoing... it takes time to convince a farmer to put manure in water for fish to grow. They only use of manure in crop growing”.Jean Baptiste Ndikubwayo, a resident of Musha sector, said that modern fish farming was long overdue.“Fish is one of the most expensive foodstuffs in our area...only a handful of families can afford to feed on fish. The increase of fish production is the only hope we have so far,” he said.

National

Rwamagana targets to produce 40 tonnes of fish