GOVT SET TO REDUCE COST OF FISH FINGERINGS

By OLIVER SAMBOKO          GOVERNMENT is working on reducing the high cost of fish fingerings and feed because they are impeding the growth of the aquaculture subsector, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Makozo Chikote has said. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Chikote said the new administration through his ministry will soon address the challenges and ensure production was improved. Mr Chikote also said the Government will also upscale the production of fingerings by setting up fish hatcheries and protect fish bleeding areas to improve the fish population in the country. He also said the government will actualize the aquaculture fund by making the funds available to the small scale fish farmers. He challenged players in the fisheries and aquaculture to take advantage of the good government policies on the subsector to increase production and improve income. Mr Chikote said the country has abundant water resources and wetlands which are key to the development of the fisheries and aquaculture subsectors.    He also said the country was poised to start competing with Botswana in beef and beef products export to the regional market and beyond once production and animal population is improved through a robust restocking programme.    Mr Chikote said government will soon undertake animal restocking countrywide aimed at ensuring that production is up scaled to improve cattle population. He  said  government would also implement a comprehensive livestock and fisheries transformation program that will make the subsectors viable. He said the focus of Government is to ensure that Zambia starts competing with Botswana in terms of animal population through coming up with workable policies in the livestock and fisheries sectors. Mr Chikote said to achieve improved production, government is committed to improve animal bleeding, undertake diseases control and disease surveillances.