More farmers in Kiboga have embraced fish farming bringing the number of fish farmers in the district to 200 from less than 20 farmers, last year. Kiboga district is known for cattle raring in the sub counties of Kapeke, Dwaniro, Lwamata and Bukomero. Kiboga district fisheries department introduced commercial fishing farming about one year ago, to boost household incomes.
However, only a few farmer’s embraced fish farming, forcing the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry to team up with the district Fisheries department to carry out a sensitization campaign to attract more farmers. Dr. Richard Atikol, the Kiboga District Production Coordinator says that the number of fish farmers has increased to more than 200 from 20 last year. Atikol says that they also helped the farmers to prepare fish ponds and given fish fries in addition to being equipped with skills.
Stephanie Mukuza, a resident of Lwamata sub-county is one of the new fish farmers. Mukuza says that he embraced fish farming about seven months ago after attending various trainings at Kiboga District headquarters. He explains that he was trained on how to prepare his fish pond and prevent predators that may target his immature fish. Mukuza says that he has started harvesting fish for domestic consumption from his ponds.
On Wednesday, Mukuza was amongst the fish farmers who received a boost of 200 Nile perch fish fries each recently to expand their fish farming business. The other farmers included John SSesazi and Dickson Agaba all from Lwamata sub-county, and Joshua Mukuye and Monday Kuburwa from Kibiga sub-county.
While handing over the fish fries to the farmers, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the state minister for fisheries encouraged more farmers in the district to embrace fish farming saying it was cheap with quick returns. She explained that government was focusing on improving fish farming to boost fish production for export. Nankibirwa said the country’s earnings from fish exports have dropped because of the depleted fish stocks resulting from illegal fishing practices.
