Elijah Phompho
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Chambo fisheries,a subsidiary of Pacific limited has appealed for government assistance in its expansion drive in order to meet the overgrowing demand for fish both on the local and international market
Pacific opened its doors in 2011 to bread the local tilapia fish commonly known as Chambo.
Disclosing this during an interview, Chambo Fisheries Farm Manager Al Amin said the demand for fish in the country keeps on increasing despite stocks in lake Malawi continue to deplete due to over fishing hence their plans for expansion.
Amin said if government would come in and assist the fish farm with grants, the Company shall be able to construct other fish farms in all the three regions of the country.
“At the moment with the local Chambo bread, we are able to produce 100 tones per year but our capacity is 800 tonnes per anum. We should be able to produce over 2,000 tones per year once we construct addition fish farms in other parts of the country which shall enable us to meet both our local and international demand should government assist us “, said Amin.
He further disclosed that Chambo Fisheries uses a hi tech Bio-Floc Water recirculatory system whose materials and equipment they had to importe from outside the country , a development he said makes them to operate under huge production costs hence appealing for government assistance.
Another senior Officer at Chambo fisheries, Abdul Rahman Kalisinje also conquered with Amin saying their system is meant to run whole day using electricity and that power challenges also affects their production costs as they are forced to rely on genset .
On his part Maurice Makuwira who is senior deputy director in the department of fisheries promised to look into chambo fisheries shortcomings saying government is committed to promote the aquaculture industry in the country.
Meanwhile a renowned fish farming expert in the country , Asaf Chijere has warned that the country risks further depletion of its fish stocks due to overfishing and changes in the biodiversity calling on government and the private sector to invest in fish farming.
Located along the Thyolo road in Limbe,Blantyre ,the MK4.5 billion Chambo fisheries opened up for the local market in 2015.
The company has so far employed over 200 locals and trained over 600 local fish farmers who are now self employed in the aquaculture industry..
