Twelve fish farmers in Masindi District have received fish fingerlings and their feeds as one of the avenues of boosting their income and improving their dietary needs.
The District Principal Fisheries Officer, Prudence Balituha, said the beneficiaries took home a minimum of 1,000 fingerlings depending on the size of their ponds.
This after the district received 40,000 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish fingerlings species from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) Secretariat through the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme.
Addressing the aquaculturists at the Resident District Commissioner’s office premises yesterday (Tuesday), the fisheries officer urged them to ensure that they look after the fish well in order to gain from them commercially and domestically.
“I am optimistic that when looked after well, within a period of six months, you shall have something to put on your table as well as something in your pocket,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the Masindi District OWC Coordinator, Maj Matua Ande-oye advised the fish farmers to always seek guidance from technocrats whenever need arises in addition to feeding the fish as per the recommendations of the experts.
He assured them that by following technical advice, the beneficiaries will improve their standard of living through enhanced household income.
The Masindi Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Dominic Tibasiimwa, urged the beneficiaries ‘to handle the project well so as to improve on their livelihoods.’
Mr Charles Asiimwe, one of the beneficiaries from Pakanyi sub-county, urged the authorities to ensure that they bring fish feeds closer to the farmers saying they travel a long distance to Kampala to buy them before adding that this becomes costlier to them.
Mr Asiimwe disclosed that after the feeds are over, farmers are forced to feed their fish on local feeds because of the long distance they travel and high costs they incur to buy the feeds.
However, he appreciated government for giving them feeds that will last for two months.
