KABUL (SW): A growing demand for fish in Afghanistan has led to establishment of as many as two thousand fish farms across the country.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), these farms have been established in the capital Kabul, and Nangarhar, Laghman, Farah, Kandahar, Kunar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Balkh and a number of other provinces. Khaliliullah Farogh, head of fish farming at the department of livestock at the MAIL, informed that the country is still far away from self-reliance in this regard.
Afghanistan imports fish from Pakistan and Iran during winter to meet the demand. Annually, the country needs up to 120 million tons of fish.
The fish farmed in the country are broadly divided in two categories. One type is domestically farmed in warm waters while the other type farmed in cold waters is fed on feed imported from Iran.
Ghulam Nabi Yousufi, owner of a fish farm in Faryab province, informed that he has been in this business for the past five years, and has produces up to 45 tons of fish on annual basis. Aiming to increase production up to 120 tons per year, Yousufi said the net value of his business has swollen to $ 165,000 in two years.
The MAIL has three fish nurturing farms in Kabul, Herat and Kapisa proivnces where up to 1200 babies of fish are produced and provided to farmers on annual basis.
Officials believe the illegal, extensive and banned forms of fishing in various parts of the country still pose a threat to the industry.
ENDS
