The fishing sector in Tanzania has failed to contribute to the national GDP due to poor equipment and technology used in the fishing industry, the House was told on Friday.
The Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development, Mr Benedict Ole Nangoro, said that a situation has pressured the government into taking strategic steps towards prioritising the sector by providing subsidies to the groups or people dealing with fishing activities in Tanzania.
Speaking in parliament on Friday, Mr Ole Nangoro, said the government has started supporting fishing communities in Lake Tanganyika and other places in the country to enable them benefit from the sector.
Mr Nangoro said this while answering a question from Mr Josephat Kandege (Kalambo -CCM) who wanted to know how the government was prepared to help small fishermen in Lake Tanganyika improve their activities.
“The government has started capacity building of the fishing communities in Lake Tanganyika,” said Ole Nangoro. He said a total of 260 fish processors from Rukwa and Katavi received training on how to add value to fish products — including 130 from Nkasi, 50 from Sumbawanga and 80 from Mpanda.
Mr Nangoro noted that the government plans to build four fish points (‘Mialo’) for storage of the products before they are sent to the market at Kibirizi (Kigoma Ujiji Municipality), Muyobozi (Kigoma Municipality), Nkasi (Kirando) and Ikola (Mpanda). “The construction of fish storage points at these places will help fishing communities add value to fish products,” said Nangoro noting that feasibility studies and surveys have already been taken as well as the building permit.
He however applauded the steps and efforts taken by the Tanzania agricultural network (MVIWATA) and the Sumbawanga Municipality to build an international fish market at Kasanga.
2012 Tanzania Daily News