AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE government has said that in its 2021/22 budget it plans to improve fishing activities in the Indian Ocean by building a fishing port that will boost income from fish products.
In addition, it says in the coming budget a total of 50bn/- will be set aside for the construction of the fishing port.
The remarks were given here on Tuesday by the Livestock and Fisheries Permanent Secretary Dr Rashid Tamatamah when submitting his ministry’s budget estimates before the Livestock, Agriculture and Water Parliamentary Committee.
He said in the coming budget priority areas include the construction of the fishing port, the process of which were now at drawing stage.
Dr Tamatamah said the government also aims to revive the Tanzania Fishing Company (TAFICO) to deal with issues on fishing.
“We also plan to buy fishing trawlers that would be under the revived company and that by December this year, or January next year we shall have bought a modern fishing trawler,” he added.
He further said through sponsorship from the Japanese government, the vessel has started to be built in Sri Lanka and come January it will be in the country.
He said late President John Magufuli had plans for the government to buy eight fishing trawlers for Zanzibar and the Mainland.
He said another priority would be the revamping of fish fingerling production centres in order to mobilise the community to engage in fish farming in their areas.
The Livestock and fisheries Minister Mashimba Ndaki said they have launched a campaign to mobilise the community on fish farming and they expect to establish demonstration farms in every district countrywide.
“But we also expect to conduct feasibility studies in the sea and lake waters to identify areas that we can provide the people needing to conduct fish farming in these areas,” Ndaki said.
