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Uganda hosts first ever aquatic fish expo

Kampala, Uganda  held its first ever aquatic fish expo as the country seeks to prioritize fish as a commodity in the Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan (ASSP), a flagship for investment and development in the agricultural sector in line with its third National Development Plan for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The three-day fish farming expo and training which started on March 24-26 with the main purpose of disseminating Aquaculture technologies was held at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi (in central Uganda), under the theme, “Enabling aquaculture value chain actors for sustainable fish production.”

The expo attracted hundreds of exhibitors and fish farmers from across the country and neighbouring countries.

Fish farmer attendees underwent training sessions in fish seed production and fish hatchery management practices, fish feed formulation, production, management and fish health management. Aquaculture experts also taught farmers in aquaculture production system design, management, business planning, record keeping and enterprises and value addition to farmed fish.
Farmers were also able to get exposed to different fish production systems like tanks, ponds, cages and aquaponics.

Dr. Tibihika Papius, the director of Technology Promotion and senior researcher at National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), NaFIRRI says the expo provided an interactive platform for agro-processers, exporters, financers and policy makers to interact and share knowledge and skill.

Papius adds that fish farming stakeholders in the sector also benefited from the different activities that have been on display at the expo.

The country’s ministry of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries through the ASSP has prioritised the promotion of the sustainable management and utilization of large commercial fish stocks, promoting the fishery of small-scale pelagic fishes, development and promotion of other fish products and by-products; and promoting commercial aquaculture.

A target of 1.7 million tonnes of fish has been set with one million tonnes from aquaculture and 700,000 tonnes of fish from capture fisheries.