Africa-Press – Angola. The shortage of adequate feed is creating enormous difficulties for fish farmers in the province of Huambo, who are experiencing a significant reduction in the production and supply of tilapia.
The breeders expressed this concern during the official presentation of the fish feed, in an initiative by the Angolan company Gândara, which brought together representatives from 100 cooperatives in the sector across the 11 municipalities in the province of Huambo.
They highlighted that production in very small quantities results from inadequate food produced locally, based on corn remains, cabbage leaves, some boiled tubers and ripened bananas, which are poor in nutrients for fish raised in tanks.
The president of the Calei cooperative in the municipality of Huambo, Mateus Chico, said he has more than 10 breeding tanks, where he collects, on a monthly average, two to four tons of cacusso fish and catfish, however, in recent times, production tends to decrease , significantly, due to the scarcity of feed.
Ricardo Alberto, head of the Okungula cooperative in the municipality of Chinjenje, said that, with 18 workers, he produces 200 kilograms of fish/month, but with the scarcity of adequate feed, there is a reduction in production and only small quantities are sold to Chinese people and businessmen in the region. Londuimbali village.
The president of the Tchitatamela cooperative in the municipality of Ecunha, Manuel Angelino Ndumbo, assured that with the feed expected to be sold by the company Gândara, fish production will increase, whose production is ensured by 32 workers.
In turn, the manager of the Gândara company, Jorge Oliveira, said that the feed comes from Portugal and has nutritional properties for fish that allow growth within three months under recommended conditions and with high standard values for the profitability of any species.
He explained that the feed has a good amount of animal proteins and a set of cereals that allows for shorter development and fattening cycles, which has already been tested in the provinces of Luanda, Bengo and Huambo, with positive results from breeders.
The deputy governor’s representative for the Political, Social and Economic sector of Huambo, Alexa Tomas, praised the initiative that will serve as an incentive for breeders to increase fish production levels, which will contribute to the diversification of the diet of many families in the province.
He said that fish stands out, like other types of meat, for its richness in proteins of high biological value, easily available iron, zinc and vitamin B12. An additional advantage is the fact that it is low in saturated fats and calories.
He assured that the provincial government will continue to provide possible institutional support to cooperatives involved in the reproduction of fish in freshwater and encourage large-scale production for food self-sufficiency in this region.
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