Eastern Province to intensify fish farming

RWAMAGANA — Eastern Province is set to produce 530 tons of fish from various lakes as part of the season’s performance contract. This was revealed yesterday by Jean Marie Vianney Makombe, the officer in charge of districts’ development in the province. According to Makombe, fish farming is set to offer employment opportunities for most fish cooperative members hence increasing their incomes. “We have so many lakes that should be exploited for the benefit of the population. We are breeding Tilapia for this purpose,” he said. “We have started with the lakes in Bugesera and we shall be going to other districts throughout the province. The target is to harvest over 530 tons,” he said. Wilson Rutaganira, coordinator of Inland Lakes Integrated Development andManagement Support Project (PAIGELAC), said everything necessary to start up fish farming is in place, and they expect abundant fish harvests in the near feature. “We have the funds and the lakes suitable for fish farming. Tilapia is a popular diet and many species can easily be cultivated in lakes and ponds. If it has been an important source of protein in most African countries, why not Rwanda.” he said. Amina Mukakarangwa, a member of a fish cooperative at Lake Muhazi said the new type of fish will boost their business as opposed to the small fish they have been trading in. “Tilapia fish are big and delicious. Therefore our clients will be more attracted to buy more fish than they have been, with the small fish we catch today,” she anticipated The project is funded by the Government of Rwanda and African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Ends