By INNOCENT KIIZA
Statistics show that Kasese district has always been ranked among the leading district’s with highly registered cases of malnutrition in the country.
In last five years several nutrition project started in the district which embraced fish farming activities in the Kasese district have in the last five years Kasese district has registered an improvement
“When u look at the statistics Kasese is one of those districts that is still having high numbers of malnutrition where the cases of stiltedness are registered, as well as some other districts like Bushenyi but in the last five years we have registered some improvement due to some nutrition projects in the district”. Julius Baluku said.
Julius Baluku the District Production Officer explained that, about 450 fish ponds have been constructed in the entire district where every sub county can now find fresh fish in their local market at cheap prices thus the reason why malnutrition cases have reduced since quality foods with nutrients are always available.
“A number of interventions have been taken where Kasese had only 47 fish ponds and few people participated in fish farming but of current the number of fish farmers can’t be estimated since everyone is interested and the fish ponds are now 450 and more are being constructed” Julius stated
Julius stated that, about 450 fish ponds with a big potential to have more fish and others are to be established to boast the venture.
In a bid to maintain the projects farm income enhancement and forestry conservation (FIEFOC-II) embarked on training and accessing some of the established fish ponds where the majority had developed characters of farming for the stomach without saving.
Bakunda Aventino the principal fisheries officer ministry of agriculture animal industry and fisheries explained that among the six District with irrigation schemes, Kasese district has been ranked the first in fish farming activities which makes it the best in fighting malnutrition cases in the entire country.
Bakunda noted that several districts with free water and neighboring irrigation schemes have remained relaxed on matters concerning fish farming, the cause for increased cases of malnutrition in Bushenyi, kabarole, lira, Sironko, Gulu and Maracha.
In another related development:
Farm income enhancement and forestry conservation (FIEFOC-II) have donated two smoking kilns to help fish farmers, the smoking kiln will solve problems of poor post-harvest haggling and short shelf life of fish.
Ritah Amolo Kintu the civil engineer attached Uganda national women fish organization as an umbrella that brings women together to create market linkage to improve production technology to better fish products both local and international.
Ritah said if fish is out of water it can’t last for more than two hours but when a fisherman smokes fish it can last for a week.
Ritah explained that, the smoking kiln is divided into three compartments: the smoke generation unit, smoking chamber, heat generation unit, which helps in dehydrating the product for a long shelf life.
Ritah said out of 15 kilns that will be distributed in Uganda, Kasese district will receive two smoking kilns where one will cater for people along Mubuku irrigation scheme and Katwe Kabatoro where fishing activities take place.
Kyomugisha Mary, one of the women trading in fish at lake Katwe explained that the old system had three steps and could smoke over 300 fish but they have not yet learned how the new kiln works and its advantages.
