By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

THE Government has pledged to continue formulating policies which are aimed at promoting aquaculture at commercial level, especially for small scale fish farmers in Zambia.

The country’s per capita fish consumption has seen a drop from 12 grams per person to less than five, representing about seven per cent which calls for a holistic approach to improve fish production.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock assistant director of fisheries Harris Phiri said the Government would continue to formulate policies aimed at promoting aquaculture in the country.

Dr Phiri was speaking at the just-ended New Economic Partnership for African Development and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) workshop on developing aquaculture as a business within an ecosystem approach to the sector in Lusaka.

He said to increase the production of fish in Zambia, Government would continue promoting fish farming by transforming the sector from public funding driven, subsistence and non-viable sector to an economically viable, private sector led and sustainable enterprise.

And FOA senior aquaculture officer from Rome, Italy Nathaniel Hishamunda said fish farmers in Africa were facing a lot challenges ranging from access to investment capital, fish seed and diseases, among others, which needed to be solved.

Dr Hishamunda said currently, the African continent was only producing one per cent of fish production despite having the potential.

“Africa constitutes 12 per cent of the world population which is expected to contribute more than six per cent of fish but it is not the case because of failure to address the challenges,” he said.

The five-day workshop attracted participants from 16 countries who presented papers on aquaculture developments and challenges each particular country was faced with.