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CLOSE to 50 000 people are now employed in the fish production industry, up from under 20 000 five years ago, marking a significant growth of the sub-sector that has been stimulated by Government interventions to facilitate its expansion.
The Government’s Rural Development 8.0 programme, which seeks to engender rural industrialisation, has been instrumental.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department (FARD) director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Mr Milton Makumbe said the sub-sector is on an accelerated growth trajectory.
“From a recent sample survey we carried out, we discovered that 48 620 people are directly employed in fish production countrywide,” he said.
“Women, who were in the past sidelined in employment, are leading the way, along with the youths, who are also being integrated into the sector. In 2019, we were projecting employment creation to hit 10 000 direct jobs and another 10 000 indirect ones by 2025.
“But with two years to spare, we have achieved our goal of creating close to 50 000.”
Mr Makumbe said Zimbabwe has the potential to double its fish production capacity in the medium term.
“Zimbabwe has the potential to produce 100 000 tonnes of fish per year that can generate US$143,9 million, which is 0,5 percent of our gross domestic product.
“As production improves, the employment rate will also increase as we improve rural income generation and household nutrition,” said Mr Makumbe, adding that employment in the sub-sector spans excavation and development of the fish ponds up to transportation of the produce to the market.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr John Basera said there were massive opportunities for growth of the aquaculture sub-sector.
“We have a number of water bodies in Zimbabwe and we are creating more ‘Lake Karibas’ in the country.
“We have over 10 700 water bodies and we have Lake Gwayi-Shangani, which is under construction and at 73 percent completion, and also Lake Tugwi Mukosi. In Mutare, we have some other small lakes, where we can do kapenta and tilapia.”
The Government is establishing 35 000 village community gardens, which will also have fish ponds. In addition, about 12 major dam projects are presently under development countrywide. This year alone, the number of registered fish ponds has risen from 5 634 to 7 247. The Government has set a target of increasing fish production to 40 000 tonnes annually by 2025, from the current 15 000 tonnes. The country’s annual fish requirements stand at 30 000 tonnes.
Online Reporter