Danish fish feed production plant to open shop in Rwanda

Danish company Aller Aqua, a global fish feed producer with more than 50 years of experience, is set to open shop in Rwanda. Speaking to The New Times on Wednesday, Dr. Tom Abeles, a consultant working with the company, said the move is aimed at supporting Rwanda to realize the untapped potential in aquaculture. “Rwanda has unrealised growth potential in the aquaculture market. Additionally it is central for distribution to the EAC to complement and expand Aller Aqua’s efforts in Africa,” Dr. Tom Abeles explained. Dr. Abeles said Rwanda has favourable tax structures and programmes supportive of agriculture development and expansion of the aquaculture industry. The development follows the lease of management and operationalisation of Urban Fisheries Products Promotion Centre by government. Under a 10-year lease deal, AQUAHORT Export Ltd/AEL, is expected to put in place a fish feed factory with capacity to produce five tonnes of fish feeds per day. This is expected to address fish feeds shortage in the country. Theophile Nyandwi, the president of Federation of Fishery Cooperatives in Rwanda (FEFICOORWA), said getting fish feeds is a big challenge in the country. Fish farmers currently import feeds from Israel and Uganda, with a kilogramme costing about $1.5 (about Rwf1,000). “Aller Aqua is a major global producer of fish feeds with an extensive set of proven formulas tailored to sub-Saharan Africa. We are also committed to support the fish rearing community with technical knowledge to improve the quality and yield of fish and thus the profitability of fish farmers, cage or ponds. It should yield higher quality fish at equal or lower market pricing,” said Dr. Abeles. Aller Aqua has factories in Europe, Asia, Africa, and their products are exported to more than 70 countries worldwide. The company’s head of Africa programme, Niels Lundgaard, will be in Rwanda on September 26-30 to fast track the implementation of the project, and touring to better understand needs of farmers who raise fish in ponds and in cage culture on Rwanda’s lakes. As part of this tour, Mr. Lundgaard will present a seminar to describe their specialized programme being used in sub-Saharan Africa. The seminar will be held on September 27 at RAB. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Danish fish feed production plant to open shop in Rwanda