Tuesday, March 19, 2024

President Lungu launches the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project

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President Edgar Lungu during the aquaculture value chair actors the Launch of Zambia Aquaculture enterprise development project in Lusaka on Saturday

President Edgar Lungu says government’s determination to proactively promote aquaculture has impressively delivered results by increasing the yields from 12, 988 metric tonnes in 2012 to 30, 285 metric tonnes in 2016.

President Lungu said the growth in aquaculture yields is a pure demonstration that the country is on the right track to boost fish production which should enable the country to cut fish imports and instead promote local production for export.

The Head of State said this in Lusaka today when he launched the five years Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project to be implemented from 2017 to 2022 at a cost of US$50.89 million, of which 89.2 percent will be funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) while the Zambian government will contribute 10.8 percent.

Mr. Lungu noted that the project is important to the subsector as a viable and inclusive business opportunity to improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries in the aquaculture value chain.

He added that the project will also help fish farmers to improve their business and managerial skills including the quality of their productive systems.

The President indicated that on the other hand, the project will benefit about 12,00 fish farmers and entrepreneurs comprising 50 percent women and youth in the identified high potential aquaculture areas.

And President Lungu has noted that there are also indirect beneficiaries of about 50,000 business entrepreneurs in the aquaculture value chain such as fish processors, fish traders, fish transporters and employees.

He has since thanked the ADB for its ir unwavering support to fund the project which is the first of its kind in Africa and has warned the Ministry of Livestock and fisheries against any bureaucratic delays or departure from the project’s objective.

Meanwhile, the President has noted that despite the annual increase in fish production, the country still has a deficit of 87,000 metric tonnes due to increased human population and demand for fish as a source of cheap protein.

President said the country therefore needs to accelerate the aquaculture development and government has since provided an enabling environment for expansion.

And Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Michael Katambo has noted that by the end of the project the country is expected to double its fish production and productivity from aquaculture.

Mr. Katambo said the project is expected to create an enabling environment for the supply of 98 million fingerings which are key components in fish farming.

And ADB ’s representative Lewis Bangwe noted that the project underlines the Bank’s commitment to help Zambia diversify its economy, reduce youth unemployment and poverty.

-President Edgar Lungu displays a Project Document during the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu displays a Project Document during the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu with fisheries and Livestock Minister Micheal Katambo and Mrs Tembo looking at some fish after the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu with fisheries and Livestock Minister Micheal Katambo and Mrs Tembo looking at some fish after the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu cuts the ribbon to officially launch the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu cuts the ribbon to officially launch the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu receives a Project Document from fisheries and Livestock Minister Micheal Katambo during the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu receives a Project Document from fisheries and Livestock Minister Micheal Katambo during the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu talks to Dr Penias Tembo and his wife before the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu talks to Dr Penias Tembo and his wife before the launch of Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu talks to Aquaculture Development Association of Zambia chairperson Fisho Mwale before the launch of Zambia aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi
President Edgar Lungu talks to Aquaculture Development Association of Zambia chairperson Fisho Mwale before the launch of Zambia aquaculture Enterprise Development Project in Lilayi

32 COMMENTS

    • Jonathan is very good at warning people. Why does he even bother?

      And of course objectives and resources will be diverted. We all know this.

      From driving an old Corolla to top of the range Bentley in one year.

      From having debts to having 23 million kwacha in one year.

      From drinking in Lusaka shebeens to frequenting bars in Uganda in one year.

      From being humble to being a full fledged dictator in one year.

      We have had enough!!!

    • I was shocked at the price of dried fish at chisokone the last time i visited, its become a dish for the rich cosidering that the miidle class that started raising during mwanawasa is an endandered species under PF, guys strictly speaking while putting politics aside, Zambians are suffering, the poverty levels are shocking, i was almost crying everytime i ventured out, to see of those guys trying to make a living its so deplacing but home is home, has it been not so i would have given up visiting the place if only i had the means, i gave out to some people the little i had but again the scare of poverty is so huge starting from your family to the guys on the streets.

    • Is this money from ADB free? Just asking coz if it’s a loan, we would have used our $45 million used for the fire tracks for this, reasonable, project than borrow from ADB then pay back with interest..

    • This time the mango munching president resisted the temptation to sink his teeth in. Kulyafye ngamulinensala ba ntamba lukuta

    • YES, BRING US OUR OLD FISH GLORY
      ======================
      Zambia, a country that died. A country that wants to import everything including fish. Next we should learn to do our own shopping malls, build our own roads, print our own ballots etc. etc.

    • Thorn in the Flesh – you can afford to cash for 42 lorries with water pumps but you can not invest 100% in aquaculture with 100+ percent return…who can take Lazy Lungu’s speech seriously!!

  1. We should be launching fish processing factory,car assembly,semiconductors plants and biotech labs -no wonder South Africans are laughing at our small exports and our small thinking mindset.

  2. Really laughable ..you contributing 10% of 50 million dollar project yet you pay cash for 42 overpriced Fire Engines costing over $40 m…misplaced priorities indeed!!

  3. “And Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Michael Katambo has noted that by the end of the project the country is expected to double its fish production and productivity from aquaculture.”- THIS is all good BUT WHAT ARE THE MULTIPLIER EFFECTS?? HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS DO EXPECT TO EMPOWER TO REDUCE HOUSEHOLD POVERTY and INCREASE PEOPLE’s INCOMES AND NUTRITION STATUS?? It is like you are doing it for the sake of just increasing production and productivity with NO LINKAGES TO REAL OBJECTIVES ON PEOPLE’S LIVES- REAL DEVELOPMENT!!

  4. I was getting impressed until I reached where it said it is another loan or grant from ADB then I reminded myself that this fraudster can not do anything without borrowing while he steals…..

  5. LT why are you not reporting on another corruption brewing…..

    ” The ministry of health and Clever Mpoha of Savenda Management services have entered into a corrupt deal to procure 50 ambulances (basic Toyota land cruiser fitted with a small bed and surgical equipment) at $288, 000 (K2.8 million) each). ”

    Zambiawatchdog…….

    • 2021 will be a stuck reminder of what happened in 1991 when KK would have stood with a dog and the dog would have won. In 2021 Edger will stand with the fish he is holding and the dried fish will win because he’s corrupt! Eddie Jonathan Chaima, you’ve lost it mate!

  6. Still so proud in 2017 to launch 3rd tier primary product line? Singapore and Malaysia which long ago graduated into highly developed economies are laughing at us.

  7. De-congest Lusaka and launch the headquarters of a project like that in Mongu or Mpulungu right where fish is coming from. Farming fish comes with its own health effects and you can’t replace natural organic fish and you need to promote the natural fish resources first. You can’t have everything based in Lusaka or Kitwe and this is where we Africans get it all wrong in our national planning.

    By the way why is this president always launching such small projects that he has no clue about? He should leave it to his ministers to bask in the limelight sometimes.

    And why does everything cost $40 million plus. These guys are devaluing the power of a million dollars greenback.

    • And how do you move fresh fish from Mongu to the main markets ….the closer the produce is to the market the cheaper and costs are kept to a minimum for the producer!!

  8. Do we need a President to be officiating everything from growing vegetables to keeping fish .Surely can be done by even Amos Chanda or Kaiza while he stays in Lusaka and sort out the mess he has created

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