Ndalatando – The number of fish farmers in the province of Cuanza- Norte reduced from 30 in 2014 to 13 this year, due to rising prices which makes difficult in purchasing feed.
Of the 13 cooperatives and one association that practice the activity, currently, one cooperative and one association are active.
In an interview with ANGOP, about the activity in the province, the head of the Fisheries Department, Patrício de Andrade Constantino, informed that in 2014, when the National Fish Farmers Program was created, the supply of feed was ensured by the state.
With the liberalization of the market, he continued, the commercialization of fish feed was transferred to private management.
He stated that the high price charged in the market makes it difficult to acquire feed, leading to the abandonment of the activity.
The head of the Fisheries sector informed that the province of Cuanza-Norte has the conditions to carry out projects in the field of aquaculture with tangible repercussions for the country's economy.
He highlighted that there is a potential for water resources with strong possibilities for carrying out fish farming on a small, medium and large scale.
In Cuanza Norte there are 36 lakes, 32 of which are in the municipality of Cambambe, 41 rivers, two of which are navigable, the Kwanza and the Lucala.
He said the activity can be practiced by peasants, farmers across the province.
The species produced in fish farming are cacusso and catfish, with greater emphasis on cacusso (tilapia), sold mainly in Luanda.
The activity generated approximately 19 jobs in the province. He indicated the municipalities of Banga, Cambambe, Cazengo and Lucala that are most dedicated to fish farming.
Impact of the Activity
According to Patrício Constantino, communal or commercial fish farming can be a business and helps improve families' diets and incomes.
The activity also helps to value abandoned land that is no longer suitable for agricultural practice, prevents erosion (ravines) and prevents contamination and siltation of rivers.
Fish farming also helps to improve the environment through the repopulation of rivers, lakes, ponds and seas with fry (fish), as well as making it possible to make rational and efficient use of water resources, producing aquatic organisms.
Sector infrastructures
As for enterprises, the province has the Mucosso National Larviculture Center, in Massangano, which supports the supply of fry to producers. With the capacity to produce two million fry per year – larvae and pre-larvae of fish – the Larviculture Center do Mucoso was the first to be opened in the country, in 2014.
There is also a Spirulina and Aquaculture Production Center in the province, in the municipality of Cambambe.
The National Fish Farming Promotion Program, which was launched in the Ngolome lagoon, Cambambe, has existed since 2014. IMA/YD/DOJ
