Gideon Tumwijukye
KABALE – Fish farmers in Kamuganguzi Sub-county, Kabale District, have raised concern over the escalating cost of fish feeds, warning that the trend is slowing down production and threatening the sustainability of aquaculture in the area.
The farmers say the increasing prices of feeds have made it difficult for them to effectively manage their fish ponds, with many now recording reduced yields while others are on the verge of abandoning the enterprise altogether.
Speaking to our reporter, Robert Kariyo, a fish farmer from Kyonyo village, described the situation as frustrating and unsustainable.
“Fish farming used to be profitable, but now most of what we earn goes into buying feeds,” Kariyo said. “The prices keep rising every day, and it is becoming very hard for us to maintain our ponds. Some farmers have already given up.”
Denis Bahongye, another farmer from the same area, echoed similar concerns, noting that feeds account for the biggest share of production costs.
“Feeds take almost everything,” Bahongye explained. “Even when you harvest, the profit is very small or sometimes not there at all. This discourages many people from joining fish farming, yet it has the potential to improve livelihoods.”
The farmers added that the high cost of inputs has not only affected production but also slowed the growth of the aquaculture sector in the district. They say fewer people are willing to invest in fish farming due to the high startup and maintenance costs.
“We want more people to join this business, but with these costs, it is not easy to convince anyone,” Kariyo added. “Without support, aquaculture in this area may collapse.”
The farmers are now appealing to the government to intervene by reducing taxes on fish feeds, arguing that this would lower production costs and make the business more viable.
“If the government can reduce taxes on fish feeds, it will help us a lot,” Bahongye said. “We shall be able to produce more fish and even supply bigger markets.”
They also called for increased financial support through Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), saying access to affordable credit would enable them to invest in quality inputs, expand their ponds, and improve productivity.
“We need affordable loans to grow,” Kariyo noted. “With support from SACCOs, we can expand and improve our farming methods.”
Apulnal Beingana, the Kabale District Local Government extension worker in charge of fisheries, acknowledged the concerns raised by the farmers and attributed the high cost of fish feeds to low demand in the area.
“The main challenge is that we have few fish farmers in Kabale,” Beingana explained. “Because of this, suppliers bring in small quantities of feeds, which makes them more expensive.”
He encouraged farmers to mobilize more people to join aquaculture so that they can collectively place bulk orders and reduce costs.
“If farmers can come together and increase their numbers, they will be able to order feeds in large quantities at a lower price,” Beingana said. “This will make fish farming more affordable and sustainable.”
Beingana also emphasized the need for farmers to work in groups and adopt better farming practices to improve productivity and profitability in the long run.
“We encourage farmers to form groups and cooperatives,” he added. “This will not only help them access inputs at lower costs but also improve their bargaining power in the market.”