Butaleja Engineer Harvests Millions From Fish
By Ambrose Wanagoli
The Butaleja district Agriculture Engineer, Charles Swama, has this morning counted gains out of fish farming in Nawetaka, Nawanjofu sub county, Butaleja district.
Swama, who began fish farming in May, says that he’s so far sold out 500 kilograms of fish, at 8,000=, per kilogram.
He says that fish farming is best paying because a pond, occupies less than quarter of an acre, but the income goes beyond 10M, in a short time.
He further discouraged rice growing comparing the labour costs between fish and rice farming.
He also revealed that there’s available market for fish, to the extent that his buyers largely, came to him from Budaka, Kibuku and Tororo districts.
He, however, advised the less privileged people to dig ponds manually.
Yusuf Mwima, the Butaleja district Fisheries officer, stated that Butaleja district has a total of 127 registered fish farmers, 350 ponds, and apparently employ a total of 700 people directly.
He also said that the Ministry of agriculture and that of Water, offered Butaleja district with 2 fish feed processing machines in Nampologoma and Nabiganda towns, now helping to crush soya beans, and silver fish, for fish feeds.
Mwima, nevertheless, reported that there are cases of theft of fish, fish poisoning, floods, and predators such as: monitor lizards, Herons(birds that feed on rats, snakes as well), frogs, and tortoises.
These discourage the farmers but he he assured them of solutions to those challenges.
Habbubu Magge, one of the residents of Nawetaka, Nawanjofu sub county, thanked Engineer Swama, for having initiated the enterprenuership in their area.
He urged the youths to desist from politics and rather form groups and dig ponds manually for fish farming. He also urged the haves to help such vulnerable people for capital.
