In an effort to improve its aquaculture production, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB) is aiming to launch a program that will see workers in the country’s aquaculture industry trained on the much-needed practical skills.
The program dubbed farmer field school (FFS) is a step towards achieving the agriculture sub-sector’s goal to transition from subsistence to commercial aquaculture according to the country’s Vision 2050.
This comes at a time investors in the industry are decrying heavy losses due to much theoretical rather than practical skills by workers especially university graduates.
“We are experiencing shortage of skilled workers for our fish farms situated in Kivu and Muhazi lakes and there is need for the government to move faster to establish more fish farming schools to train professionals to help in the industry if we have to achieve our targets,” said Themistocle Munyangeyo, the Managing Director of Fine Fish Ltd, an enterprise operating in Rubavu District’s Lake Kivu.
Marie Nzabahonimana, a fisherman from Rutsiro District also expressed the importance of practical skills which he said will revamp harvests and increase income of all players in the industry. “I aspire to witness an improved and more developed sector in the near future.”