Disclaimer: This is not an extensive review of aquaculture in each country, this is a digest of the news about aquaculture in Africa released on Internet this month. The validity of any information or figures quoted is the responsibility of the individual newspapers and websites concerned. Also, please check previous updates: August 2009, September 2009, October 2009,November 2009, December 2009, January 2010, February 2010, March 2010, April 2010, May 2010, June 2010.
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Burkina Faso
- The Minister of Youth and Employment of Burkina Faso visits Côte d'Ivoire
The Minister of Youth and Employment of Burkina Faso, Michel Koutaba, heading a large delegation of Burkina Faso, made a visit Côte d'Ivoire as part, he said, of the will of his country to learn from the Ivorian political integration of young people. He visited in particular a project in which 10 young people will soon will soon go to Italy for a training on fish farming.
Cameroon
- Overview of Fishing in Cameroon
A course given by Theodore Djama and Pierre Nna Abo'o, Sarnissa members, during an ACP-EU fisheries management and biodiversity event in Dakar, Senegal is now available on Internet. It deals with the physical environment, the socio-economic importance, the description of the industry, and the legal and institutional aspects.
Chad
- Spirulina could save lifes
The funding agencies are hoping that blue-green algae Spirulina could save lifes in Chad, within the framework of a 1.7 millions dollars project, funded by European Union, that will concludes its activities in December 2010. "It's a miracle," said Ousmane Issa Mara Barkadressou village chief in the northern region of Kanem, pointing the finger at the non-irrigated oases where spirulina typically grows. "It gives you energy. After eating spirulina cake, our sub-prefect has not suffered health problems anymore. It restores the appetite of children who have none". Barkadressou is one of 14 sites EU funded near Lake Chad and Kanem region. Nearly one in five children measured by size, weight and arm circumference in November 2009 by Action against Hunger, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) operating in the region, suffered from acute malnutrition. According Djara Ngami, governor of the northern region of Kanem has the most arid climate: "It is lamentable to see how this region is dry and desert. It borders the regions of BET [Borkou, Ennedi Tibesti], north, and faces the same conditions and the same difficulties in agriculture". Across the country, 1,581 women participated in EU spirulina cultivation project, and hundreds of women from Barkadressou prepare biscuits with spirulina and sell them to people who make up to six hours by car from the capital of the region, for their purchase. Mr. Mara, the village chief, told IRIN that Barkadressou needed a pump motor to improve the irrigation of their crops: in 2009 the drought had indeed stopped the local craft production of spirulina. Each family sells up to 100 kilos of spirulina during the annual harvest, and these revenues are essential.
Congo
- The government recommends the creation of agricultural production units in provinces
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Posts, Telephones and Telecommunications, Simon Bulupiy Galati recommended the provinces to create units of agricultural, fish farming and livestock production in order to respond to the food crisis. Production units should follow the model of agro-pastoral area of N'Sele (DAIPN) in connection with the delivery of refrigerated trucks, the fruit of cooperation between the government and the African Development Bank (ADB).
Côte d'Ivoire
- Inauguration of the Yabayo Women Cooperative Union
Announced and expected to Yabayo for the inauguration of the women cooperative union of in food, the First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo was not able to join the event due to health concern, creating confusion among the organizers and disappointment among the people. However, the ceremony began with a series of speeches. Ms Ogou, president of the Yabayo women cooperative union gave an update of past activities and mentionned that the union operates 02 hectares and has 10 fish ponds functional. They also deliver attieke to schools. But we need a warehouse, a cold room and an ambulance.
- Data on Ivorian fish
Fishing in Côte d'Ivoire is only between 2 and 3.2% of agricultural GDP and about 0.8% of GDP. But the fishing industry is an important sector of the economy. The Ivorian government, aware of the shortcomings of the fish farming sector in Ivory Coast, has established an agricultural sector policy that falls within the main institutional and policy reforms of the 90s. A master plan for agricultural development 1992 - 2015 has been developed for this purpose. In the fisheries sector, it focuses on development of marine fisheries and lagoon in the rational exploitation of all potential fish and optimal use of inland waters through the development of aquaculture. The fishing industry employs 3,500 employees, 70% composed of women. Indirectly, nearly 40 000 people are involved through activities as varied as packaging fish, subcontracting, poultry, loading and unloading ships, etc..
- Panic in Azaguie: Two tankers spill toxic near fish farms
Two tankers have spilled toxic chemicals in Yapo Abe Forest, located in the Department of Azaguie, during the night of Wednesday 21 to Thursday, July 22. The discovery was made by the staff of an animal farm (pig, chicken, fish) after hearing suspect engine noises. Employees thought it was thugs who planned to steal the generator that supplies the farm with electricity. Using flashlights, they went to the place. Surprised, the fellows flew away in two trucks but without their registration numbers could not be recorded. "It's in the lake near the farm they have poured the contents of their vehicles," said a source. An employee of the firm who have been in contact with the product, has begun to bleed from the nose. He was quickly taken to a medical center in Azaguie and is now out of danger.
East Africa
- Fish Farmers Brace for EAC Market
Fish farmers are bracing themselves to serve a bigger East African Community (EAC) market which comes with a unified area of 1.8 million square kilometres, with agricultural produce and livestock. Braced for the booming business the EAC promises, Hajji Yusuf Muyunga of Masaka has stocked 20,000 fishlings in five ponds stocked with 4000 fish each. Muyunga is the chairman of Kingo Fish Farmers Association, which has 420 members. In the recent past, fishing has had a bad reputation as stocks are being depleted and the activity requiring significant amounts of water and energy. But in contrast, Muyunga's style blends safe yet old cultural fishing practices with modern techniques which use minimum energy and water. Muyunga advises farmers starting out in fish farming to start small, on not more than 100 fish. Once one masters a few basics, Muyunga adds, they can then raise several species of fish in tanks, indoors or out, throughout the year. Done away with inherited archaic fishing methods, thanks to World Vision and Med Net facilitation, Muyunga stocks catfish, Nile Perch and tilapia. The fingerlings are often bought and transported in drums from Kajjansi to the different sites in Masaka by road. To solve the water problem, Muyunga has constructed a water tank with a capacity of 20,000 litres. He also harvests rain water and stores in a huge tank. Cage culture, is a type of aquaculture method which provides the simplest means of growing fish if one has access to a pond. Muyunga estimates a cage system could be built for about sh200,000. The only cost is for cage materials, fish and feeds. In this system, a cage or pen made of plastic pipe and rigid netting is moored in any suitable body of water. It may be a pond, lake or a stream stocked with fingerlings that are fed until they reach a harvestable size.
Gabon
- Office and computer equipment delivered to Directorate General for Fisheries and the Aquaculture
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development, Raymond Ndong Sima with the help of the African Development Bank (ADB) has delivered to the Directorate General for Fisheries and the Aquaculture (APD) equipment worth 124 million CFA francs mainly composed of micro-PCs, printers, copiers, video projectors, fax. This delivery is the first draft of a set of amenities expected by this direction, for the project Support to Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector (SPFS). This project aims to contribute to the diversification of the Gabonese economy through the sustainable management of fishery resources and environment.
Source: http://www.senego.com/gabon/gabon-du-materiel-informatique-et-de-bureautique-offert/2010/07/04/7301
Ghana
- USA Lifts Sanction On Ghana’s products
The United States has removed Ghana from the list of countries blacklisted for using child labour in the production of cocoa, gold and tilapia. This means that Ghana can now export those commodities especially cocoa, to the international market without fear of the produce being rejected on the grounds that the country uses child labour in their production. This was announced at a review of National Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC) by the Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere. He said the US action was a result of the tremendous work of the NPECLC and its implementation agencies, noting that it has done a lot to reduce the worse form of child labour in most cocoa growing districts.
- African Water Facility Grant for Ghana Project
The African Water Facility (AWF) has approved a 498,000 Euros grant to the Water Resources Commission in Ghana. The grant will finance a project which will introduce a market and end-user oriented planning approach that simultaneously closes the water and nutrient loops called "Design for Reuse" in order to effectively capture the economic value of wastewater and faecal sludge nutrients to help finance, operate and maintain treatment facilities. The Water Resources Commission in Ghana, submitted a grant proposal to the African Water Facility to support a project aiming at harvesting the value of effluent and nutrients to sustain the operation of sanitation facilities. The goal of the project is to improve the long-term operation and integrity of wastewater and faecal sludge treatment plants in urban Ghana. The project is based on the design for reuse approach which is an effort to establish the sanitation sector as an active contributor to local economies. The project will result in key impacts such as the reduction of the incidence of waterborne diseases, improvement of access to complete sanitation services, and improved operational and financial sustainability of WWTPs and FSTPs. The project will be implemented on a pilot scale that comprises four value chains: (1) Reuse in irrigation; (2) Aquaculture; (3) Large-scale land application of faecal sludge; and (4) Biogas recovery. In addition, the project includes capacity building, achieved through developing and publishing planning protocols, and hosting interactive training workshops.
Kenya
- FARM-Africa Launches Aqua Shops Project in Western Kenya
FARM-Africa and partners are launching a pilot Aquaculture (fish farming) project in Nyakach and Samia districts, western Kenya, this week. The 15 month project will build a wide network of franchised outlets delivering a range of affordable, quality-assured products and services to farmers - helping them to build new livelihoods. The project, funded by DFID's Research Into Use programme, will encourage the private sector to drive the growth of the fish farming industry and create public-private partnerships in service provision. This pilot is being run in partnership with NR International; University of Stirling, Institute of Aquaculture and Imani Development. The approach is based on a Department for International Development (DFID) model that has contributed to large-scale uptake of aquaculture in Eastern India, and has improved the livelihoods of 20,000 poor farmers and entrepreneurs.
Madagascar
- Toliara: Successful Sea Cucumber farming
The sea cucumber trépang is an endangered species and that's the reason why the project supporting Toliara fishermen is encouraging its farming. It is currently running with the support of two NGOs, Transmad and Blue Venture, as well as one research center, ISHM. 48 pens have been implemented, according to Dr. Ratsirisija Colin, director of the project. 80000 seed have been supplied by Madagascar Holothurie last year. Survival is high now, about 75-80% against 10-15% before.
Mali
- Fishing in the Central Niger Delta: The imperative need for better organization
How to control fishing to avoid increased pressure on fish stocks and species extinction? The issue was on the agenda of a recent workshop of stakeholders.
The Niger River Basin is both rich in water and energy, transport capacity, irrigation potential and its consequences for agricultural production, not to mention the fishing industry or the livestock. The management of the resource could have serious consequences for the future of the region in a context of global warming.
In Mali, the management of the river is a major issue. It combines both remarkable traditional production systems but also great achievements and promises of development in modern hydroelectric and irrigated agriculture.
However, managing this water resource is facing enormous problems, particularly in fisheries where there is a clear need for a better understanding of urban practices in order to obtain a wider vision of the sector. Beyond facilities, high population growth is increasing pressures on fish stocks, led to overfishing and contributes to the disappearance of certain species of fish. The
workshop initiated the discussion on the current state of fisheries and fish farming in the district of Bamako and on the opportunities presented by fisheries and aquaculture.
Organized by UNESCO, the Institute of Development Research (IRD) and the National Board of Fisheries, this workshop is part of the project "Niger-Loire: governance and culture". The objective of this project is to provide a local response to issues of protection of the river Niger in promoting cooperation between the Niger River and the Loire River in France, involving both local authorities, technical services State, universities and research institutions.
Nigeria
- FCT to get six new fish markets, Minister
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed yesterday that arrangements have been concluded for the establishment of Fish Farm Estates in all the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory where Fish Markets will also be sited.
According to him, as part of moves to actualize this, the Administration has already completed the pilot scheme of the Fish Farm Estate including the market in Bwari Area Council that would be commissioned soon.
Speaking in his office while inaugurating the new Executive Committee members of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Fishermen and Seafood Dealers (NUFAS), the Minister immediately ddirected the Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to look at the International Fish Market, Kado-Abuja and find ways of modernizing its equipment/operations aimed at bringing it at par with its contemporaries in other parts of the World with the target of self-sustenance.
Senator Mohammed who called for closer cooperation between the Union and the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat; stressed that such relationship will avail the membership of the Union with technical knowhow and in-depth knowledge of the current happenings around the globe on the sub-sector which will go a long way to assist them.
According to him, the cooperation and collaboration will also assist in bringing down the high cost of fish to a level of affordability to the ordinary residents of the Federal Capital Territory as there will be more fish in our markets while the natural law of demand and supply will come to play.
The Minister assured that his administration will give sufficient support to fishery extension services to improve the productive efficiency of fishermen in the Territory, adding that the Administration will consider genuine requests for land in the Fish Farm Estates being established in the Territory with plans to embark on a programme of re-seeding numerous natural fish ponds and water bodies in the Territory with adequate fingerlings to boost fish production.
Responding on behalf of the new executive members, the Chairman, Yunusa Halidu who noted that the Fish Farm Estates when commissioned will go a long way in improving fish farming in the Territory thereby improve the fortunes of his members, however promised to cooperate with the FCT Administration to take fish production to the next level in the FCT.
- Uvwie fish ponds declared environmental disasters
Fish ponds in Uvwie have been declared environmental disaster area by the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bello Orubebe.
He said this following an oil spillage from a sunken tug boat at the Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, which has destroyed fish ponds in Ugboroke, New Layout, Ekpan and Agadaga areas, killing over 6,000 fishes with more on the verge of death.
The Commissioner made the declaration while on tour of the affected fish ponds, yesterday. He ordered the immediate halt in the sale and consumption of fishes from the ponds, pending thorough laboratory tests.
A visibly angry Orubebe said, “the Governor expressed shock as hard working Deltans are being plunged into poverty. He is on top of the matter. He commiserates with the people over their loss.
In the main time, do not sell these polluted fishes. They are contaminated, they now contain bio-degradable content which is harmful.”
“From my preliminary view of the substance, the pollutant is a petroleum substance, the final result will be released after a laboratory test. Our concern is to get the polluters to pay, we will work with other agencies. I have seen the source of the pollution at Chevron yard, the annoying thing is that they have not condone the area off. I will give them 48hours to come out with a remedial plan and adequate compensation, they cannot avoid their responsibility,” he added.
Orubebe also said that over 6,000 farmers were affected and wants a proper documentation of the exact numbers of farmers affected but promised that his Ministry will in conjunction with other agencies, carry out examination on whether the remaining fishes can be sold to avoid a colossal loss.
Reunion
- An architect project for offshore aquaculture
Serge Mondon,
architect based in Saint-Denis, has designed a pyramid-shaped device aimed at serving as plat
form dedicated to offshore aquaculture.
Senegal
- Opening of an International workshop on "Aquaculture in Africa"
Representatives from Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania and Burkina Faso have met and worked on Aquaculture in Africa, during a workshop that opened in presence of the Chief Secretary to the Minister of Higher Education, Research Science, Universities and University Colleges. Aquaculture is one of the pillars that could boost the development of Senegal under the Accelerated Growth Strategy. Senegal, despite enormous potential, is ranked among the countries with non-significant production, although aquaculture has been practiced for 50 years with women of Casamance in the rice fields. The National Agency of aquaculture was established in 2006 to promote development of the sector. This involved setting up a code of aquaculture for the benefit of investors. The establishment of a research center in aquaculture is also planned through cooperation with South Korea.
- What are the retention ponds ?
Although promising, fish farming stumbles on one African reality: the lack of good quality feed for fish, shrimp and other aquatic animal grown. The international meeting in Dakar on the theme "Sustainable Aquaculture in Africa" (from June 28 to 29) showed that on this matter the questions are even more serious than answers. The main obstacle is finding efficient feed for the growth of these small domesticated animals, but there are also some other complex issues such as the introduction of exotic species like the controversial Chinese carp. Taking into account the particular context of many African communities that lack access to the sea and survived the edge of a pond, a creek or a small stream, we retain that in Africa, "the production of the freshwater fisheries is around two million tonnes per year. But it must take more and more fish to feed a rapidly growing population and resources are close to overexploitation". Another finding to raise awareness. Fish farming could be a solution, and this is the whole point of the Dakar workshop organized by the National Academy of Sciences and Technology of Senegal. Much research is conducted to select the species of fish most suited to African farming and less expensive to purchase. Tilapia and catfish are the species most commonly used. Despite this, aquaculture remains marginal. In Senegal, the government has recently launched the National Agency of Aquaculture, but there is still more problems in that sector than responses. So far, tests were conducted in a single region in floating cages along the Senegal River delta at some villages including Diaminar Loyens at Lake Guiers, Guidahar on the side of Richard Toll and in Bontou Bath. The fish grown is a species of tilapia (Wass in Wolof). University of Dakar also conducts research on the domestication of this species. Senegal is producing some 200,000 larvae per week. Mamadou Sene, one of the researchers completing a doctoral thesis on aquaculture, highlights the existence of "some interesting growth tests ranging up to 173 grams per kilogram of feed provided per day." Since August 28, 2007, an Action Plan of NEPAD for the development of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa has also been launched. This strategic framework was to include fish in the fight against poverty. But after nearly three years, while other regions continue to benefit from advances in science and technology to improve their production in fisheries and aquaculture, Africa is still lagging behind due to a general lack of ability. In Senegal, even the launching of the Great Offensive for Food and Agriculture Abundance (Goan), did not permit to aquaculture to grow significantly. The former Senegalese minister of Industry, also a former Director of UNIDO, Louis Alexandrenne says "One thing is clear. Africa is far behind in aquaculture. And to this important issue, I think the Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Senegal Ministry of Scientific Research should set up an international conference on aquaculture development in Africa. I do not know if the World Bank, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) are involved in this process but they should be". On research, he added : "In experiments, the fact is that we are still at the research scale. We must find the opportunity to succeed to make fast transfers at industrial level. We should see what we can do together in Africa. Within the context of regional and sub regional cooperation, we could not do something exciting. "For example, Louis Alexandrenne concludes," we did a major renovation project of the retention ponds in Senegal, so we should try to make a connection between this work and the opportunities for aquaculture development. ". But the problem of the feed remain. In the valley of the Senegal river, for now, we have found a solution with local products such as millet, melon seeds, rice etc.. fishmeal to feed farmed fish. These feed allow some fish (tilapia, carp, catfish ...) to triple weight over a period of 21 days. But their high cost poses a serious problem to farmers. For example, with requirements of fish meal valued at about 150,000 tons at the national level, Senegal can only produce a little less than half, about 70,000 tons. Another factor limiting the development of aquaculture in Senegal is water. Diadhiou Ahmed, Head of the Oceanographic Center at Dakar Thiaroye (CRODT) said "we should broaden the dialogue. Because so many species are introduced in production systems, such as oysters, carp, we should move towards greater cooperation with other African countries. There were certainly some very interesting results, but we must go further especially regarding the sites selection and feeding". The environmental concern is also confirmed by a Canadian experts attending the Dakar meeting. According to Sylvain Lafrance, "the introduction of any new species requires a lot of research to know what are the impacts on the environment and the site. For example, is the Chinese carp really consumed in a country like Senegal?". Even in an embryonic state, aquaculture does not appear to lack strength all over the continent. A country like Nigeria has made tremendous progress in the field. It's the same in Madagascar or Tanzania. "In West Africa, Senegal is certainly at the stage of testing, but a country like Côte d'Ivoire, said the former Director of Fisheries, Mbaye Ba, has the most promising potential. With the Mong project, I think it is the most successful project in West Africa. If there were failures everywhere now, it's more related to adjustment problems and inconsistencies".
- A 26000 tonnes target
The National Agency for Aquaculture (Ana) has set itself the objective of producing 26,000 tonnes of fish in 2010, against 100,000 tons in 2015, told the press one of its experts, Abdou Aziz Badiane. "The goals are achievable if the predictions made by the Ana technicians realized with a start of production in the ten farms scattered across the country within six months," Mr Badiane said on the sidelines of a four-day workshop, held for ten trainers. After a theoretical part on farming techniques, the workshop participants made a trip to Richard-Toll, where was held the practical phase in one of the farms accounted by Ana to multiply the number of basins dedicated to fish farming all over the country. The Agency has divided Senegal in three zones (North, South and Central) where selected relay agents are assigned. According to Abdou Aziz Badiane, they will be responsible to train people interested in this activity. Along with aquaculture techniques, participants (women and men) were initiated by Mr. Badiane on the basics of management, including budget. The same work will be done on Joal and Sokone on oysters for which a market has been identified in the subregion countries by the Senegalese Agency for Export Promotion (ASEPEX), noted his representative, Ms. Alimatou Ly Ndiaye.
- The Iupa releases its first batch of Fisheries engineers
25 of the 98 students that comprise the first three promotions of University Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture have received their degrees during a ceremony held in the auditorium of the University Cheick Anta Diop (UCAD). Professor Abdou Salam Sall, Rector of UCAD, called them for "passing aquaculture know-how to the aquaculture industry. This strategy will require, according to him, "a descent to the ground for relief workers and contribute to local wealth creation." For his part, Omar Thiom Thiaw, Director Iupa, noting the decrease of capture fisheries raised "the need to train enough officers and strengthen research capabilities". In a documentary film screening ahead of the start of the ceremony, "Women and fisheries in Senegal, conducted in the Saloum islands, Babacar Faye, Professor at the Ecole Nationale de Marine Training (ENFM) and Lecturer to Iupa, reported that theartisanal fishing generates over 600,000 jobs and accounts for 80% of landings with 13,000 boats registered in 2004. Founded in 2003, Iupa has a regional focus. He has hosted since its inception, students from Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea. However, the Director of the Iupa reported that the Institute needs support in all areas. A response to its concern will be provided by Abdou Salam Sall, who noted that the U.S. has funded 100,000 USD in equipment and 50,000 Us Dollars to run a laboratory on fish parasites.
- The ANA and OFEJBAN bring hatchery programs in the suburbs.
The Office for Youth Employment in the Suburbs (OFEJBAN) and the National Agency for Aquaculture (ANA) signed on July 27th a protocol for developing fish-farming among youth living in the suburbs. Beyond jobs, self-sufficiency in fish is in sight. The Director General of OFEJBAN Boubacar Ba argued that "OFEJBAN and ANA are coming in the suburbs to help the population to produce fish that will sold on the market. " He confided that "if we develop fish farming and micro-gardening can give life to this community." The target is not just a suburb of Dakar but rather that of all major cities. Ba says "the study project and program is estimated at 4.5 billion and the work that OFEJBAN does in the suburbs will give direct employment to 600 persons and 700 indirect jobs for a total 1300 jobs. He assured that "donors are ready to finance these initiatives. Some Spanish and Italian partners have already shown their willingness to export the experience of their country in Senegal. As the CEO of the ANA, Amath Wade "the ANA also wants factory farms throughout the country. To finance this project he stated that "a program of 6 billion has been introduced to the African Development Bank (ADB). He made it clear that Senegal can achieve self-sufficiency in fish, that is 350,000 tons.
- A breeding center for high value species in Joal
In accordance with the will of President Abdoulaye Wade to use aquaculture development in the fight against poverty and wealth creation, a production center for grouper, sea bream and shrimp will be established in Joal. With the support of the Republic of Korea, through its Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which provides support to the National Agency of aquaculture (Ana), Senegal will have a center for aquaculture of high value marine species. The first phase of the project, including the 1-year feasibility study was concluded on July 13, 2010. The site in Joal has been chosen. It covers five acres and includes both production buildings, offices and a laboratory. The Director of the Ana, Mr. Amath Wade has magnified the excellent relations between Korea and Senegal, as evidenced by the support of the KOICA to Ana (provision of a control laboratory, hardware and ground vehicles). For now, the project will be sent to KOICA headquarters in Seoul to finance the construction of the center. The private sector involvement will be essential for achieving production targets in Senegal, particularly as the farmin,g of the marine species mentioned is very popular and very profitable.
- Mobile Banking Sees Success in Senegal
Thanks to a mobile banking system launched last month in Senegal, people with no previous access to bank accounts were able to watch the World Cup via satellite services that they paid for electronically with a few taps on a mobile phone. The service is a clear sign that mobile banking is taking off in Africa, giving some of the world's poorest people a way to access financial services. The system, which is called Yoban'tel by Obopay and was launched on June 24 by Obopay and Société Générale de Banques au Sénégal, lets customers use text messages to transfer money to satellite and cell-phone providers. Users walk into a participating store and make a deposit into their Yoban'tel account. They can then use that money to pay bills. "In developed countries, there were a lot of mobile banking services and they failed," says Ignacio Mas, an economist who works for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The reason, he believes, is that for people who already have access to banks, as most people in the developed world do, it's difficult for such services to compete. For poor people in the developing world, however, banking facilities are limited, and almost all transactions are carried out with cash. "There's no business case for banks to build banks and ATMs where poor people live," says Mas. Typical transactions in such places would be so small that it's not cost-effective for banks to operate there. With no way to store or send their money electronically, people who want to give money to family in another village have to bring it themselves. Mobile phones offer banks a way to tap into existing infrastructure to deliver these services inexpensively. In the last 10 years, a bevy of mobile service providers, banks, and independent organizations have launched mobile money transfer facilities in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Kenya.
- Interview of Amath Wade, Director General of National Agency for Aquaculture: "In Search of a 2 billion credit line"
In Senegal, despite aquaculture production being still small, there is strong political ambition to develop the sector, says Amath Wade, CEO of the National Aquaculture Agency (Ana), a structure created in 2003 to boost the sector. He gave a long interview and mentioned the lack of private sector involvement. He says: "When we arrived, we said that the best way to involve the private sector, who do not mind making money is to expand this program to create highly profitable firm (profitability above 50%) and insert the private sector as an association with an accompaniment of Ana and retrocession program after being assured he has the technology and financial control. This is the fastest way to involve the private sector strongly. The area is not properly funded. Currently, banks are no longer interested in fishing, but there is an unwarranted extension that has been made in the aquaculture sector. It's the same product - the fish - but this is not the same activity. In fisheries, the number of catches is still uncertain, while in aquaculture, if you put one hundred fingerlings with a low mortality rate, for sure you're between 90 and 95% of your production. Since the fundraising activity is mainly based on risk, what is the risk here? Banks should instead look at the aquaculture sector. Until the banks make a clear idea about it, we are looking to open a line of credit from financial institutions so that, with financial and technical partner, we can finance the private sector. We have already prepared an application for a credit line of about two billion CFA francs. After that, I'm sure the banks will be a reason. "
- Development of Sedhiou's region: priorities identified
After several stakeholders meeting held during the last months, the priorities for the development of Sedhiou region have been identified, among which aquaculture development (fish, oysters, shrimp etc.)
Sierra Leone
- FAO Donates US$28,873 Worth of Fish Feed
In an effort to ensure that the aquaculture sub sector of the Fisheries industry in Sierra Leone realize its potential the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO has donated a large consignment of Fish Feed worth over US $ 28,000 to Fish Farmers from various parts of the country. The programme which was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources attracted a good number of fish farmers from the North, South and Western regions of the country. Giving her keynote address at the ceremony that was held at the Ministry of Fisheries Boat yard, Kissy Dock yard, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Jeneh Kandeh said there is currently heavy pressure on the harvesting of fisheries resources through illegal fishing practices leading to a global decline in fish stocks. This situation, she said has prompted Government to seriously focus on aquaculture to ensure food security, job creation and export earnings. Haja Kandeh lamented that the sub sector is underdeveloped despite its immense potential and efforts in the past to stimulate its growth. “It’s against this background and in line with President Koroma’s Agenda for Change that the Ministry in collaboration with FAO is giving free feed to fish farmers in the country” she added. The Deputy Minster thanked FAO for providing support to fish farmers through the Technical Cooperation Programme and providing funds to develop the “Strategic Framework for Sustainable Aquaculture development in Sierra Leone. The Acting Deputy Director of Fisheries, Alpha Bangura said they started fish farming by using rice bran and termites and have not been able to expand aquaculture over the years due to lack of technology and materials needed to compose formidable feed that helps fish to grow. He admonished farmers to engage in activities that would ensure sustainable development of the occupation. The donation he said was the beginning of accessing quality fish feed by farmers and hoped their ponds would grow from subsistence farming to semi commercial ponds. Giving an overview of aquaculture in Sierra Leone, the National Coordinator, and Aquaculture Karmour Dabo said fish farming started 30 years ago with the establishment of two fish farming stations at Makali and Bo and lamented that the practice is still at the rudimentary stage even though there are 1,500 fishing ponds in the country. He encouraged the beneficiaries to monitor the use of the feed and impart results obtained to their colleagues. A representative of the Fish farmers Hassan Gbessay Kanu appealed for technical assistance to increase their capacities and pledged their desire to help Government in providing fish in the Market as well as employment. A representative from the FAO office in Sierra Leone, Enitor Briggs, said the donation was a small component of the organisation’s Technical Cooperation Project that catered for fish farmers in the country. She pledged her organisation’s willingness to people who are willing to promote Fisheries and Agricultural activities in the country. Miss Briggs appealed to all to give fish farming their best, describing the practice as easiest and cheapest way getting fish.
Source: http://www.awoko.org/?p=8878
Uganda
- East goes fish farming
The eastern region will be turned into a fish farming zone. The move is aimed at eradicating poverty through full utilisation the area’s water resources. “The Government will help farmers in various regions, but each region has to concentrate on a farming activity in which it has a comparative advantage to qualify,” said Fred Mukisa, the fisheries state minister. The east is endowed with a lot of underground water and a large number of the population in the region lives along the shores of Lake Victoria. Mukisa was speaking at the commissioning of the Last Chance Fish Farm Project at Kigandaalo sub-county headquarters in Mayuge last week. The project is a community-based fish farmers’ group with 300 members. “The economy will suffer if people near water bodies can no longer carry out economic fishing because of the reduced catches from the lakes and rivers. This is why we have to stimulate large-scale commercial fish farming,” the minister explained. Mukisa disclosed that the Government would give farmers fingerlings and equipment to excavate ponds, appropriate technology and also train personnel before the programme starts early next year. Mayuge, Bugiri, Butaleja, Iganga, Sironko and Manafwa distritcs will be the project’s initial beneficiaries. Some farmers would be trained locally, while others would undergo training in Egypt, the minister added. The Government, the minister said, has completed the construction of 10 out of the 30 coldrooms proposed for different landing sites across the country. Each coldroom has the capacity of handling over 5.5 tonnes per day.
World
- Belize: Tilapia producer goes into trouble
While official sources claim that the Belize economy is rebounding from a recession, there is still financial turmoil troubling many local businesses, including Belize’s lead tilapia exporter, Fresh Catch Belize Limited, which is going into receivership. The multi-million-dollar red tilapia farming company, Fresh Catch Belize Limited, was inaugurated in December 2002. In October 2005, the company acquired a US$10.6 million debt with First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Ltd. and First Caribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited.
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