By MERCY MUMBI
THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has trained 70 fish farmers in Lupososhi District of Northern Province, in a bid to promote good nutritional practices among children in the area.
JICA Nutritional in Charge Miho Kanno said the fish farming project which was introduced in the country about 40 years ago and in 2017 in Mufili Agriculture Camp in Lupososhi district has seen improved the nutritional system among the people especially children under the age of five.
NAIS reports that, Ms. Kanno added that the fish production project which her organization supports in a bid to mitigate stunted growth across the country, has yielded positive results especially in most rural communities such as Mufili area in Lupososhi District among others.
She stated that fish production is a key source of not only proteins but also generates income for the less privileged, thereby improving their livelihoods.
The JICA Nutritional in charge also explained that the farmers in Mufili Camp have been trained in post harvesting and fish preservation using simple technologies such as salting and smoking fish in a bid to ensure that the fish is as well as increasing the shelf life of fish in a manner that farmers can easily understand.
And speaking at the same function, Acting Food and Nutrition Officer, Vivian Mwansa expressed gratitude that farmers in the area are adaptive to the simple technologies through which they are able to preserve fish shelf for both homes consumption and marketing without any challenges.
She further added that the Ministry of Agriculture’s role is to see fish farmers have less challenges in an effort to increase their production for consumption and marketing through the proper preservation of the fish products through simple methods.
Ms Mwansa has since encouraged farmers and also the general public to also embraces fish farming in order to curb the would be stunted growth cases in communities especially in rural communities.
Meanwhile, Senior Irrigation Engineer for Northern Province Mufalari Sifaya has described the project in Mufili Agriculture camp as a success. Eng. Sifaya explained that fish farmers were also being supported with fish feeds, fingerlings made it possible that farmers were harvesting quality fish that they were able to sell to the general public.
And Pasco Chanda who spoke on behalf of other farmers commended government and the JICA project for training them in various farming schemes.
Mr Chanda explained that through the various trainings that his mates have undergone through the project, has improved their technical knowhow in fish production, irrigation system and climate change respectively. – NAIS.
