From Lockdown Project to Aquaculture Hub: How One Nakaseke Farmer Turned a Backyard Pond Into a 30-Member Fish Enterprise
Mr. Kiranda Samuel, a prominent aquaculture farmer in Mawejje Zone, Nakaseke Town Council, has urged the government to slash taxes on fish feeds to protect the profit margins of local growers. Kiranda, who founded Asasiramu Fishing Suppliers, made the plea alongside enterprise member Nanziri Grace, who separately called on the state to establish structured commercial markets for their increasing yields.
The thriving community initiative now boasts over 30 active members and manages 12 operational fishing ponds, a massive leap from its humble beginnings as a family lockdown project.
From Egypt to the Backyard: A Journey of Knowledge,while the enterprise took physical shape during the economic stagnation of the COVID-19 lockdown, its roots trace back to international training. Mr. Kiranda studied aquaculture in Misiri (Egypt), where he acquired advanced, professional knowledge of modern fishing and pond management.
This specialized training was made possible through a sponsorship courtesy of former Vice President Professor Gilbert Bukenya, a long-time champion of commercial agriculture in Uganda. Armed with this technical expertise, Kiranda returned to Nakaseke ready to transform the local farming landscape.
Digging Through the Lockdown,when the pandemic forced the country into strict lockdowns, Kiranda chose to put his knowledge into action. Lacking access to machinery or external laborers, he enlisted the help of his own children. Together, using hand tools, the family manually dug out the dirt walls for their very first fish ponds.
The family's hard work paid off, yielding tangible household benefits. The income generated from the initial harvests allowed Kiranda to seamlessly secure school fees for his children, provide nutritious food for his family, and cover essential healthcare costs
To meet diverse market demands, Asasiramu Fishing Suppliers specializes in breeding high-demand commercial fish species, including:catfish and Tilapi
The expansion of Asasiramu Fishing Suppliers has not been without roadblocks. Mr. Kiranda notes that one of their primary social hurdles is a persistent negative mindset among some community members. Because Nakaseke is traditionally a crop and livestock hub, many locals openly doubted that fish could be successfully bred away from Uganda's primary lakes." Some community members were telling me that am rearing flogs".
Today, the challenges have shifted from social skepticism to commercial bottlenecks, prompting the group's recent appeals to the state:
High Production Costs: Kiranda stresses that taxes on imported and localized fish feeds make up the single largest expense for growers, choking potential profits.
Market Access: Cooperative member Nanziri Grace emphasizes that as their yields grow, farmers need direct linkages to steady domestic and regional buyers to avoid post-harvest losses.
Despite these hurdles, the enterprise stands as a model of economic resilience, proving how specialized knowledge and family teamwork can turn a global crisis into local prosperity
Mr. Kiranda is calling up farmers who would like to start the fishing farming to access him for advanced knowledge in the game
.
No comments:
Post a Comment