00:06This aquaculture center outside Kampala is equipping fish farmers with skills critical
00:13for boosting production.
00:15From building ponds and cages and breeding healthy fingerlings to ensuring water quality,
00:21fisheries officers here aim to achieve good yields and sustainable growth.
00:25Across Uganda, systems like these are widely used, supporting both local consumption and
00:33supply chains to meet the growing EU demand.
00:36We've been rearing fish which is consumed either locally or regionally.
00:42But with a leeway or a green light from the European Union markets, this is a very, very
00:49good opportunity whereby our farmers will be able to tap on those markets.
00:55They can add value to fish.
00:56They are able to make more money and that really will boost growth of aquaculture in Uganda.
01:04Uganda is now looking to tap into the European Union, one of the world's largest seafood markets.
01:11But getting there means meeting strict requirements on quality, hygiene and traceability.
01:18The government is carrying out inspections of farms to ensure the standards are met.
01:23If there are issues of biosecurity, we have to make sure that the farmers' facility meet
01:29those EU biosecurity.
01:31There are issues of feeds, the kind of feeds that is used for feeding the fish.
01:36We will tell the farmer and the farmer's responsibility is to make sure that they get that exact feed
01:41that we want them to get so that their fish is not rejected.
01:47Meeting those standards is changing how farmers operate on the ground.
01:51Here, farmers are raising both tilapia and African cut fish in these ponds.
01:57And for many, it's a chance to grow their business, create jobs and reach a much bigger market.
02:03Uganda is targeting up to 4,000 tons of farmed fish for export this year.
02:08Uganda produces nearly 130,000 tons of farmed fish annually, mainly tilapia and cut fish.
02:16Officials say aquaculture will play a crucial role in reaching that goal, especially as wild fish
02:23stocks in major lakes come under strain.
02:26Fish farming is already expanding with more investments going into production systems, both on land and in open water.
02:35It is very expensive for the government to maintain the EU market because we have laboratory tests that we have
02:42to conduct
02:43on a quarterly basis every three months.
02:46We have to send a report to the EU and tell them that this is the product that we have
02:54and this is how it is produced,
02:56meaning that the EU wants to see that report every three months and that means that we have to keep
03:03on going to the laboratory.
03:05And this laboratory currently, we have only one accredited laboratory in the country.
03:11Back here in Kajansi, farmers are now preparing to meet that demand, hoping the EU market access will turn fish
03:19farming into a more profitable and sustainable business.
03:24Mike Kobaleke, CGTN, Wakiso, Central Uganda.
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