President Edgar Lungu on Wednesday named fish farming as a viable option for millions of Zambians to increase their income and create jobs. The president also showcased his own attempt – he raised 2,500 fingerlings himself.
Lungu set up his fish farm at State Lodge, the second presidential home. It’s located in Chongwe, 30 kilometres east of Lusaka

“These things (fish) are very easy to grow and I feel that if I set an example, many Zambians will appreciate that it can be done and emulate me,” he said during a fish restocking exercise.

He was accompanied by Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Michael Katambo, permanent secretary David Shamulenga and other senior government officials. “We need to take fish farming seriously. It has the potential to create jobs for the youth and we can also start exporting some fish to earn much needed foreign exchange,” he said.

FISP PROBLEMS ‘ADDRESSED’

Meanwhile, special assistant to the president for press and public relations, Amos Chanda, said Lungu would soon put together a team of experts to deal with the existing impediments to the efficient administration of the Farmer Input Support Programme.

“The president will put in place a special team to ensure challenges with the e-voucher system in the current season, are dealt with before the next planting season,” Chanda said.

Chanda said Lungu also had a closed door meeting with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), led by its president, Jervis Zimba. This in order to find ways to effectively reform the agriculture sector.