Berea, Sept. 29 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN) in Berea has conducted a two-day training on fishery projects aimed at building farmers’ capacity and highlighting livelihood opportunities in the sector.
The training, held at the District Agricultural Office (DAO) Berea hall on Tuesday, brought together at least 35 farmers from different resource centres across the district.
Addressing the farmers, Maqhaka Area Technical Officer (ATO) for Livestock Mr. Sanaha Ntsebane said although fishery projects might sound new in the country, fish farming had long been practised, particularly along rivers.
He said the training aimed to equip farmers with the skills to manage fishery projects independently and eventually commercialise them, noting that the fish market remains largely untapped in Lesotho.
He said the initiative also seeks to help farmers explore the fish value chain, promote sustainability, improve productivity and strengthen competitiveness in the market.
Mr. Ntsebane further said Lesotho is among the countries given an opportunity to export products to the American market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), although much of the focus has remained on textile products.
He said through capacity-building initiatives such as the training, farmers could seize available opportunities to contribute to economic growth and improve their livelihoods.
He pointed out that an important consideration when establishing a fishery project is identifying a suitable location with a reliable water supply, as well as having sufficient capital to purchase fry or young fish.
Similarly, Sefikeng ATO for Livestock Mr. Paballo Sehlatsane said fish are sensitive aquatic creatures that can respond to changes in temperature and terrain, requiring farmers to closely monitor their daily development and protect them from predators.
Mr. Sehlatsane emphasised the importance of having uncontaminated and fertile water for healthy fish growth.
He said fish can feed on natural food and artificial feeds, adding that they consume more food when they are young but eat less as they grow.
One of the trainees, Ms. Mamotlabaki Mots’oane of Ha-Mphele, said fish farming was her dream, noting that Lesotho’s land topography presented an opportunity for the sector.
She said her family has a field that is constantly affected by waterlogging and is no longer productive, adding that they would like to transform it into a fishery project for income generation and job creation.
On health and nutrition, Ms. Mots’oane said fish have good nutritional value and contribute to brain development.
Another participant, Mr. Thabiso Monyatsi of Boinyatso Farm, said they already have machinery for producing fodder and other animal feeds, including fish feed, but lack an investor to provide the operational funding needed to get the project moving.
Mr. Monyatsi said the fish market is among the most untapped markets in the country, adding that they had learned that Lesotho does not have a constant supplier of fish.
He said they therefore attended the training to learn how they could enter the fishery sector and take advantage of the opportunity.
Among the suggestions from the trainees was for the country to take measures to preserve the yellow fish, which they said is reportedly facing extinction.
Meanwhile, fish species commonly found in Lesotho reportedly include Common Carp, Nile Tilapia, African Catfish and Rainbow Trout.
Ends/RM
