Speaking during a day-long workshop on 'New Opportunities in Agribusiness' yesterday, a senior Fishery officer from the ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr John Mapunda, said there was a shortage of over 400,000 tonnes of fish in the country, a gap that the private sector could use as the opportunity to increase their incomes.

 

He said that more than 80 per cent of fish supplied in the country were captured from the seas and lakes. He said there was a need for wananchi to engage in fish farming. "There are, however, 20,000 public fish ponds that produce 10,000 tonnes per year. But still the demand is high and that grants an opportunity to entrepreneurs to step in," he said.

 

Recent statistics show that Tanzania has a potential to produce over 730,000 metric tonnes of fish from both captured and aquaculture but currently less than 300,000 tones are produced annually leaving a huge gap uncovered and opportunity for business. Fish is an essential food in a balanced diet containing high-protein and low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits, but majority of Tanzanians cannot afford buying it because of its high price.

 

Mr Mapunda said that in a bid to promote agriculture, the government has reduced importation tax to most agriculture equipment including those used in fish farming.

 

One of the participants, Mr Abdulatif Mbululo who is the director for Horti Organic Company opined that people in the urban areas can avoid consuming contaminated vegetables and fish if the entrepreneurs venture in smart farming that uses minimum clean and safe water.

 

He claimed that the public consumes contaminated food products because they don't have option and challenged entrepreneurs to utilise the opportunity effectively. For his part, Walter Mndeme said the government must make sure there were enough experts to help entrepreneurs to practice modern farming.

Source : allafrica.com