Zambia to increase fingerling production to 460 million by 2025

ZAMBIA – Zambia is set to significantly boost its fingerling production as part of a broader strategy to tackle the country’s national fisheries deficit. 

The Zambian government announced plans to increase fingerling production from 433.4 million to 460 million by 2025, marking a key step in enhancing local fish production and reducing dependence on imports. 

Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane revealed this ambition during his presentation of Zambia’s 2025 national budget, which amounts to 217 billion kwacha (US$8.2 million).

The government has outlined a series of initiatives designed to support the growth of the aquaculture sector. One of the central elements of this plan is the construction of three new hatcheries in Kasempa, Mushindamo, and Samfya aquaculture parks. 

With the addition of these hatcheries, Zambia will have 84 hatcheries by 2025, enhancing the capacity for year-round fingerling production in government fish farms. 

This move is expected to help close the fisheries deficit, which has already dropped to 51,000 metric tonnes from 74,000 in 2023.

Dr. Musokotwane highlighted that the growth of the aquaculture sector is essential for Zambia’s economic development, contributing between 2% and 3.2% to the country’s GDP. 

In response to this growth, the government is investing in various projects to ensure the sector’s sustainability and expansion. 

Along with new hatcheries, greenhouses are being constructed at key government fish farms in Chadiza, Kaoma, Mwenda, Mwinilunga, and Sinda, enabling continuous fingerling production throughout the year.

The push for increased fingerling production also aligns with the government’s broader objective of reducing fish imports. In the first quarter of 2023, Zambia imported over 26,000 tonnes of fish and fish products, costing approximately US$40.4 million.

By increasing domestic fish production, the government aims to reduce these imports and bolster local food security.

The national aquaculture sector has faced numerous challenges, including the impact of climate change on water resources and the El Niño phenomenon, which led to significant crop losses in the 2023/2024 farming season. 

Dr. Musokotwane reported substantial reductions in the production of key crops, with soya bean yields falling by 77.7%, rice by 60.8%, and maize by 53.6%. These challenges have further underscored the need for a diversified agricultural strategy that includes aquaculture.

The government launched the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme in July 2024 to mitigate these impacts.

This initiative focuses on irrigation, mechanization financing, farm blocks, extension services, agro-processing, and infrastructure development. The program is designed to increase food security, improve nutrition, create jobs, and enhance agricultural exports.

In addition to its focus on fisheries, the Zambian government is also taking steps to improve livestock health. Dr. Musokotwane revealed that 620,000 doses of the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccine were procured to vaccinate cattle in Muchinga, Northern, Northwestern, and Western provinces. 

Moreover, over 437,000 cattle were vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease in key areas, including Itezhi Tezhi, Kalomo, Mkushi, and Namwala.

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