Fish farmers complain over lack of feeds, financial support

Lack of fish feeds and financing services are still a challenge to most fish farmers in the country. Fish farmers say they have to import feeds from Uganda, Kenya and Israel at about Rwf 800 per kilogramme which is quite expensive for commercial fish farmers. They also say banks are reluctant to give them loans on grounds that fishing is a risky business. Roger Shaw, an American fish farmer in Bugesera District, says Rwanda’s fishing industry is marred with constraints. He said there is need to have a commercial approach to fish farming in the country. Jerome Musomandera, another fish farmer in Karongi District, says they are unable to meet the market demand as the supply of fish is still low which he attributes to lack of feeds. Wilson Rutaganira, the head of the fishing department at the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), acknowledged that fish feed availability and affordability has been a challenge to farmers, adding that RAB is working on modalities to address it. “We have given out eight units of feed making machines to different cooperatives across the country which will partially solve the problem,” he said. He urged farmers to embrace floating feeds. “We have contracted two private companies to produce these feeds locally. So far, there are two plants in Rubavu and Gasabo districts doing this which has led to a drop in the price of these feeds from Rwf800 to Rwf600,” Rutaganira said. He said the ministry is looking for an investors who can put up an animal feed plant that will also include fish feed. Rutaganira said they are discussing with different banks and showing them how fishing can be profitable so they can advance loans to fish farmers.

National

Fish farmers complain over lack of feeds, financial support