High meat prices put focus on fish farming

THE Southern Highlands Department of Agriculture and Livestock is looking at supporting fish farming in the province as few can afford to buy meat or raise their own animals which has led to chronic malnutrition, according to adviser Kenneth Kuimp.
He said the price of imported meat and fish were increasing and raising pigs took time.
Kuimp said that led the people to live without balanced diets and there was evidence of stunted growth in children.
During his visit to Repsons Investment Fish Farm, a private-run fishery project in the Imbonggu district that will be supplying fingerlings to fish farmers in the Highlands region, Kuimp said the department would support the project.
Owner Francis Rasu, under the supervision of Imbonggu district staff Paulus Mosby, took 10 years to establish the fish farm.
Kuimp was impressed with the work and presented K5000.
“Now we have a major supplier of fingerlings in the province, people must start to have fishponds to look after the fingerlings. Fish is a valuable source of protein and income for the local people,” he said.
“We have fertile soil, we grow sweet potatoes and vegetables and look after animals, mainly pigs, but each day people miss protein in their diet.
“The easiest way to make sure protein is available is through fish farming.”
Kuimp said the Repsons Investment Fish Farm was expected to supply more than one million fingerlings and to start off with, it had about 10,000 fingerlings. He urged the people to think about their health and get involved in fish farming.