Lake Malawi fish landing sites gets infrastructure boost

Kaporo fish landing site is benefitting from construction of markets, storage rooms and toilets. These will ease problems fisher folks are facing but also help reduce post – harvest losses

A scenery captured at Chipamira Fish landing Site in Chief Kilipula in Karonga district where a market, storage room and toilets are being constructed

By Rapheal Mweninguwe

LAKE MALAWI, Shoreline (Planet Defence) - In Karonga northern region, Barnabus Ngulube, Kaporo Beach Village Committee (BVC) chair is on cloud nine as his landing site is benefitting from the construction of markets, storage rooms and toilets. These structures will not only ease the problems fisher folks are facing but also help reduce post – harvest losses incurred during storage and marketing.

“SFAD – WM is supporting us with the construction works.  It has also trained us on how to manage aquatic ecosystems and conservation of our capture fisheries resources,” says Ngulube on the construction site along Lake Malawi shore line.

He expressed the fisher folk excitement at the facilities which he said have created jobs through employment of young men and women at the construction sites.

“We have a number of young people in our villages including women who have found employment as result of the project. The money they earned from the construction works helps them buy food for their families hence addressing food insecurity challenges,” he explained.

Other than Ngulube fish farmers, fishers and entrepreneurs are also among other people excited by the Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management (SFAD-WM) Project, currently being implemented by Department of Fisheries with funding from African Development Bank (AfDB).

The five – year project aimed at improving people’s lives through entrepreneurship and food security has raise hopes among communities along Lake Malawi shoreline. Other core areas include sustaining capture fisheries, developing aquaculture and strengthening fish value chain among others.

“This project has come at the right time,” says Edina Gondwe, a member of the BVC adding, “SFAD-WM project is also contributing to reduction of poverty among fisher folk including technically skilled young men and women.”

Dick Milanzi, Chairperson of Kavumu Fisheries Cooperative Society at Chilumba Jetty expressed happiness the provision of refrigerated vans to be used by the cooperative will motivate the members.

“As a cooperative, we will be able to generate more financial resources from use of refrigerated van. The users will be making a modest contribution to help maintain it and also generate some revenue for the cooperative,” he said.

Agness Mkandawire who owns a fishing gear and treasurer of Tukombo BVC said she was happy that SFAD-WM project has trained a number of fish farmers and fishermen on how to protect and manage fisheries resources.

“Before this project many of us did not know how to manage fisheries resources. We did not know how to care for our fish. But now we have the knowledge and expertise on ecosystem-based fisheries management,” Mkandawire said.

Speaking from the research and development experience, David Mbamba, Manager at Mzuzu Aquaculture Centre (MAC), said over 3,000 fish farmers have since 2017 received various technical support from the centre. Located in the heart of Mzuzu MAC is now a centre of excellence, research and training site in fish farming.

“For example, we have trained fish farmers on how to make fish feeds and incubation as hatchery operators. We also train them on how to manage fish stocks and handling of harvested fish,” he said.

Mbamba who provided the center’s background said its size has now grown from 1.6 ha in 2017 to 7.1 ha currently. He said plans are underway to further increase the size of the fish farming site.

To improve on fingerings production MAC has constructed the green houses which will soon be functional.

“Once we finalise everything the greenhouses should be able to be used for its intended purposes,” he said.

The SFAD-WM supported by the African Development Bank is estimated to benefit about 20,000 fishers, fish farmers, and value chain entrepreneurs of which 50 percent are expected to be women in the targeted areas.

An additional 250,000 people across the country will also benefit either directly or indirectly. Apart from sustained income from fisheries resources, the project will also help in the recovery of fish stocks through multi – species and watershed management.

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