AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has asked the Tanzania Postal Bank (TPB) to open ‘Fishermen Account,’specifically for loan and insurance services to fishermen in the country, the National Assembly heard on Tuesday.
The banking window, according to the government will empower small scale fishermen in the country to have finance, which will enable them buy needed fishing gears.
The statement was made by the ministry as written response to a question asked by the Mpanda Rural MP, Selemani Kakoso (CCM) who had wanted to know what the government was doing to help fishermen in Lake Tanganyika, who do not have modern fishing equipment.
“Lake Tanganyika is one of the deepest lakes in the country and entire continent, making the local fishermen to fail to catch fish in the lake, because they lack the right tools. Does the government have plans to help them acquire the equipment?” asked Mr Kakoso.
He argued that fishermen in the lake find it difficult to operate in the deep lake due to lack of modern fishing gears, and asked if the government was ready to help them by providing them with right gears.
Responding, the ministry explained that the government was determined to improving fishing in the country, since it is a source of their income, besides providing them with food and nutrition.
The ministry explained that the government has enabled groups of fishermen to have access to loan through the agriculture window at the TIB bank.
Other efforts include support through the Private Sector Desk at the ministry, where they have been connected with various financial institutions in the country.
It is through this approach, that according to the government 2.6 bn/- was approved as loans to fishermen, but only 323.8m/- was disbursed.
The ministry named other efforts as removal of value added tax (VAT) on fishing boat engines, fishing nets and other related equipment since 2014 in order to allow fishermen purchase them at cheaper prices.
On the same note, the government appealed to fishermen to form Cooperative Societies and Saving and Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) for their easy access of financial loans.
Equally, the government has appealed to private sector players to help in establishing industries, which manufacture fishing equipment for fishermen to locally purchase them.
