By KASONDE KASONDE –
GOVERNMENT has said despite the prevailing fish deficit in the country, it will not allow importation of fish species that are found in Zambia.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Michael Katambo said Government would only allow importation of exotic fishes that were not found in the country’s water bodies.
Mr Katambo said measures had been put in place to ensure that the country ventured into fish production at a large scale like the introduction of an aqua culture development loan to encourage residents to venture into fish farming.
He said Government was targeting 12,000 youths and women to venture in fish farming following the US$50 million from the African Development Bank (ADB) that was secured a few months ago.
Mr Katambo said measures had already been put in place to ensure that the youths and women selected from all ten provinces were trained in fish farming.

KATAMBO

The minister said this at Bole International Airport on Tuesday when he was transiting to Czech Republic where he is expected to attend a Bread basket exhibition with his Agriculture counterpart Dora Siliya.
This is according to statement issued by First Secretary Press and Tourism Inutu Mwanza at the Zambian mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“The country cannot afford to continue importing fish owing to the many water bodies that it is endowed with,”Mr Katambo said.
He said a committee had already been formed and a manager been appointed to come up with guidelines and terms that would be followed for people to access the loan and President Edgar Lungu was expected to officially launch the aqua culture development loan soon.