By WINSTON MULEBA JUNIOR
Increasingly, international assistance is geared to
poverty alleviation. This requires development programmes to adhere to the
principles of sustainability, social acceptability and environmental soundness
over and above the traditional principles of technical feasibility and
financial and economic viability. Aquaculture development during the decade
preceding 1997 fostered an increase in annual production of about 200% to over
36 million tons overall or 28% of total global fish production, according to
FAO statistics.
The world's natural fish stocks are now seriously
low and Zambia is unexceptional. As the world grows richer and its population
grows larger every day, it will need more protein - and fish are a highly nutritious
source of protein, vitamins and minerals. The world's wild fish cannot supply
this rising demand so aquaculture is a rapidly growing and increasingly
important industry. It is expected that fish supplied by aquaculture will
increase to 40% of the total by 2015.
To my fellow Zambians, especially youths, they say
to run a success business one has to develop a third eye meaning one must see
an opportunity where others can’t see it. In this case aquaculture industry is
a very profitable sector which is rapidly growing, seeing that Fishes in our
natural bodies is failing to satisfy the demand of Zambian people as a result
in most cases we import fish from China, the world largest Aquaculture producer.
Most of the aquaculture production in Zambia comes
from four breams (Tilapia) species (Oreochromis
andersonii. Oreochromis macrochir, Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia rendalli)
therefore, if you have taken note of the price of one proper table size bream
you’ll agree with me that there is money in this sector, some entrepreneurs
realize KR67, 000 from one pond, imagine you are culturing these breams at your
own farm, with more than one pond, how much can you be realizing from each
production unit? Thus invest before competition arises in this sector because
the Zambian population is growing every day, so is the demand for fish and our
capture fisheries in Zambia cannot produce fish to meet the demand by people as
the result the only alternative is for you and I to invest in aquaculture
businesses.
You are able to make millions of kwacha just from
one production unit. Production units can be ponds, tanks, net enclosures,
cages, or raceways.
I also wish to extend my Appeal to Government, that it is their responsibility as the Government of the day to
provide “basic support” to the industry. Potential entrepreneurs should be
supported through aquaculture research, training of aquaculture officers and
extension of technologies. Defining the
roles of government and the private sector including civil society, and the
identification of responsibilities that enable each one to complement the
others’ efforts is crucial to mustering support or commitment to development
projects. Donors would like to see national policies that clearly express the
roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders preferably made through
consultations among them. More importantly, it would assure investors and
farmers that their projects are supported and their investments protected
For it is an obvious case that most youths do not have the
resources required to develop commercially viable technologies for local
species not yet subject to culture. To my mind, to do so ahead of the
establishment of a sector should require exceptional conditions. Much of the
work needed for technology development and adaptation is costly therefore, CEEC
should be very transparent when giving loans and they should thoroughly assess
the viability of the project to be funded. Youths have potential to contribute
to the sustainable development of this country through various enterprises but
lack of resources hinders them to contribute effectively for a very simple
reason. Most the feasible projects require technology which when there is no
funding, no progress can be seen.
But, to end on a somewhat more positive note. I would say
that government policy in developed economies, at a minimum, should focus on
informing potential entrepreneurs and financiers on possible entrepreneurship
opportunities. It is important that they receive up-to-date information on
technologies, markets and the best intelligence about possible future
developments.
To venture into this profitable businesses this
sector is there is, of course, an exception to all of what I have just
said -that is the case where aquaculture can serve as a means of reducing
poverty and improving nutrition in Zambia. The fact that aquaculture has, and
will continue to have, also this role is the main reason for FAO to be closely
involved in activities of this sector. There is no doubt about this; the poor
can ill afford hobbies. The poor will get involved in fish farming or
aquaculture activities only if they believe that it will improve their income
(in cash or kind) and will only continue the activity if that proves to be the
case.
At times in the past, the stated objective of the Government
policies has been to make the small scale fish farmers to produce cheap fish
for other poor people to buy. If such a policy is pursued, it should be recognized
that it is, in principle, contrary to what the farmer in his role as producer
wants to produce. He/she wants to produce expensive products so that his income
increases. If the policy is seriously pursued, it is likely to need increasing
subsidies.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the fact
that in economically underdeveloped regions, the challenge for the poor is how
to obtain a chance to have an occupation from which they can derive sufficient
income to provide a decent life. Where most aquaculture is practised today –
you have that chance if you have access to land and water, that is, if you have
access to natural resources, you have a base with which to earn a livelihood.
