High fuel price negatively affects Kapenta production, farmer

A commercial Kapenta Farmer in Sinazongwe district says high fuel prices in the country has negatively affected the performance of the fish-farming industry. Blue Waters proprietor, Bill Mulders, said the Kapenta farming sector in particular has faced serious negative effects of the ever increasing fuel prices. Mr. Mulder told Agriculture and Cooperative Deputy Minister, Albert Mulonga, that the situation has been worsened by the competition posed by imported Kapenta from neighbouring Mozambique. Blue Waters has been in existence in the Kapenta farming industry for the past 25 years and produces on average 30 tonnes of Kapenta which is supplied to mainly to Lusaka every month. Agriculture Minister, Mr. Mulonga said government has put in place policies to ensure that locally produced goods satisfy the market demand before the imported goods could have access to the market. Mr. Mulonga, however, urged local suppliers to put in place a fair price structure for their goods to avoid exploiting consumers.