EDITOR
Members of the Southwestern Aquaculture Cooperative Union have called on district fisheries officers across the region to mobilize and register all fish farmers in their respective local governments. The call was made during the Union’s third annual general meeting held at the Mbarara District Council Hall in Kamukuzi.
The meeting, chaired by the union’s chairperson, Mr. Deus Tumusiime, emphasized the importance of registration in helping to determine the region’s fish production capacity. According to the fish farmers, a complete registry will pave the way for a more organized production and supply chain and help identify appropriate technologies for processing fish products to add value for both export and local markets.
Mr. Tumusiime, who also served as Mbarara District Chairperson, pledged to support the sector by offering a free storage facility for fish feeds, which will serve as a central distribution center.
The Union also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mpanga Basin Community Organization to jointly address ecosystem needs essential for sustainable fish farming. The collaboration aims to apply advanced technologies to improve the quality and quantity of fish seed and feeds and to enhance the production, processing, and marketing of fish products for both domestic and international markets.
The meeting concluded with optimism about the future of aquaculture in the region, with stakeholders committing to building a more coordinated and technology-driven fish farming industry.
