YOUTHS SHOULD TRY AQUACULTURE

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.