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Pader fish farmers are eager to supply entire Northern Uganda as over 170 fish ponds are well stocked.
By Kinyera Anthony Lakomekec
Pader – February 20, 2022: Fish farmers in Pader district are reaping big in sales and expecting a high quantity of fish supply from over 180 fish ponds in the district.
Last year, the farmers received fingerlings supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) through the district fisheries officer.
Martine Okello, a fish farmer from Puranga sub-county in Pader district said they received 2,000 fish fingerlings from the district and have reproduced over 10,000 fish in his 5 ponds.
Okello added that he has made harvests two to three times earning him millions of shillings. A kilo goes at shs10,000, he said.
According to Okello, he mainly keeps tilapia and catfish since they are simple to keep. However, he said that there are challenges of feeds to boost the farming in the district and that he currently uses local feeds.
He confirmed that the district farmers can afford to supply the entire East Acholi if production is increased and the challenges handled amicably, urging farmers to practice fish farming since it’s cheap and not risky.
Meanwhile, Thomas Odongkara, a resident of Pader who is coordinating the works of three fish farmers’ groups, said they decided to do fish farming because it’s not risky.
He noted that the environment (climate change) rarely affects its development.
“We are waiting for fish fingerlings with three of our ponds ready for production,” he added.
John Tyan, Pader district fisheries officer (DFO), said there are currently 188 fish ponds in the district excluding the ones located along the road; others well stocked with fish fingerlings.
The DFO added that there are 32 new dams constructed and awaiting fish fingerlings after requesting 200,000 fish fingerlings.
“There are challenges facing the production of fish, one being lack of fish frying center, cases of theft reported (involved) in fish farming, among others.”
He further urges stakeholders to lobby for a fish frying center. It’s very expensive to obtain one at a cost of over shs100million.
