Western Highlands Province is now seeing Talapia and Trout fish hitting its markets and supermarkets all because of the increase in freshwater fish farming in the province.
Provincial Livestock and Fisheries Manager for Western Highlands Mr. Kevin Nemba said that for the past 2 years the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has been very supportive towards fish farming projects in the Province, thus resulting in the boom of fresh water fish farming.
“We have fish farms in all four districts in the province with focus on two main types of fish, Talapia and Trout,” said Mr. Nemba.
“As for Trout we have now developed two main farms at the border of Tambul and Mendi, apart from Betty Heggins as the number one Trout fish farmer in the highlands we are now trying to expand production on Trout as well in WHP.”
Mr. Nemba further stated that Tambul and Mul have more bigger fish farms and about 8 of the fish farmers have now entered into Small Micro Entrepreneur with their fish farming and that is a great achievement for these farmers.
With about eight fish farmers now in the SME sector, the people of Western Highlands are enjoying the luxury of having fish for dinner because these farmers are now supplying Talapia and Trout to the main market, and big supermarkets in the province.
“The focus now is to grow all small-scale fish farmers into SME owners and Provincial Livestock and Fisheries Department will continue to support these farmers with feed ling, trainings and equipment to grow freshwater fish farms in Western Highlands Province,” said Mr. Nemba.