Nwoya fish farmers wary of soaring feed prices

NWOYA – Some of the fish farmers in Nwoya district are worried about the high prices of feed that have forced some of the farmers out of the business.

Previously, some farmers say were paying Shs 2,000 per kilogramme of feed, but at the moment they are paying Shs 4,000-4,500.

Among others, farmers in the area feed their fish on processed rice bran, sesame cake, wheat roughage, and other feed obtained from feed shops.

Those who cannot afford to buy ingredients to make their own feed have instead left the fish to fend for themselves, something they say is most likely to affect the quality of the fish.

Naturally, fish in ponds feed on detritus, bacteria, plankton, worms, insects, snails, and aquatic plants among others, yet these may not be of recommended quantities.

John Obutu, a fish farmer in Alero Sub-county has given up on the business saying the current fish feed prices are too high for him to afford.

“I love the business, but the prices of feed have pushed me out of it for now. When the prices come down, I will resume,’’ he said, calling upon government to intervene.

George Onen, who has five fish ponds says at the moment there is a need for the farmers to make fish feed themselves so that they can keep in the business.

“As for me, I have embarked on making my own feed since the market prices are too high. I buy the different ingredients and mix them on my own,’’ he said

Each of Onen’s fish ponds, he said, has between 1,300, to 1,800 fish.

Operation wealth Creation coordinator in Acholi Sub-region, Brig. Francis Achoka said the money to support fish farmers is being channeled through Parish Development Model [PDM]. He urged the fish farmers to contact district officials for help.

“They should seek advice from the district technical team. We want any enterprises that the farmers are venturing into to become a success,’’ he said.

Uganda harvests mainly Nile perch, tilapia, and silver cyprinids.

Of these, Nile perch has established a major international market, with 12 processing factories now approved for sale to the EU. 80 percent of the country’s perch is exported to the EU, with some surplus fish sold to the United States.

https://thecooperator.news/fishermen-on-lakes-kwania-and-kyoga-find-hope-in-emyooga/

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