By Mabuchi Chunga
National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has expressed delight at the approval of a $13.2 million financing package from the African Development Fund for a fisheries and aquaculture development project in Malawi.
NASME’s national director William Mwale said this is a welcome development which will help to boost a struggling industry which is one of the poorest yet vital industry in the country.
Mwale said the fishing industry contributes to the country’s economy but lately it has been discovered that people involved in this business are the poorest.
He said: “helping people around the lakeshore area and mainland is a good step towards alleviating the poverty that is there and this is a case that has recently come to light even in the media.”
“Small scale fishermen and women do a great job in providing fish around the country and this is evident because we see fish being sold in Chitipa, Rumphi, Mzimba and Kasungu.”
He said the association recently conducted a workshop in which they were trying to figure out how they could help boost the fishing industry and their biggest concern was on funding and this news has come at an appropriate time.
African Development Bank (AFDB), is sponsoring the Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development, and Watershed Management project which will provide infrastructure for increased fisheries productivity and market access that is set to benefit around 250,000 nationals.
