AQUACULTURE - Fisheries Dept organizes stakeholder meeting on national aquaculture development plan
The National Aquaculture Development Plan is poised to bolster food system transformation by emphasizing intensified aquaculture development and fostering innovative public-private partnerships
MANGOCHI, Malawi (Planet Defence) - The Department of Fisheries, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is currently conducting a stakeholder validation workshop on the draft strategic plans for the national aquaculture development plan at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi district.
Scheduled to run from December 27th to 30th, 2023, the validation meeting aims, among other objectives, to present the National Aquaculture Strategic Plan (NASP II). It seeks to outline specific outcomes for implementation and explore the most effective means to execute NASP II within a limited timeframe.
During the opening remarks, Mr. Alfred Tsitsi, representing the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), provided background information on the project. He highlighted FAO's initiative named "Supporting Food Systems Transformation Through Aquaculture Development and Innovative Public-Private Partnerships."
The project aims to contribute to the establishment of efficient, inclusive, and resilient aquatic food systems via sustainable aquaculture development. This includes disseminating training materials on best practices in aquaculture. Mr. Tsitsi emphasized that drafting a technical guide to enhance private investment in aquaculture stands as a pivotal action within the project.
Dr. Hastings Zidana, Director of Fisheries, extended gratitude to the attendees for their presence at this significant meeting. He underscored the project's importance despite the tight timeframe, emphasizing its focus on commercializing the aquaculture sector.
Dr. Zidana disclosed plans to engage investors in the project's developed model to stimulate investments in aquaculture enterprises, thereby boosting fish production. He urged the contracted consultants, former directors of fisheries Dr. Sloans Chimatiro and Dr. Friday Njaya, to provide substantial assistance.
Additionally, Dr. Zidana appealed to fellow departmental staff to meticulously assess the framework. He commended FAO for its substantial support toward this project.
*Source Fisheries Department Facebook