14 Jun 2020

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake says government prohibits importation of products that are amply produced locally.

Ms Manake said this during the tour of the Golden Wrap (PTY) Ltd trading as Chobe Bream fish farming on June 12.

She explained that government had already done so with bottled water because many Batswana were producing it.

She was reacting to the managing director of Chobe Bream, Ms Mari van Graan, who decried the importation of fish when the country has local companies that could satisfy the local market.

She said government should promote locally produced goods thereby creating employment for Batswana especially the youth.

Ms Manake explained that the government was willing to empower locals and as such encouraging Batswana who reside in areas with abundant water such as Maun and Chobe to venture into fish farming.

However, she explained that Botswana only produced three per cent of the national demand of fish adding that a lot needed to be done to commercialise fish farming in the country.

Briefing Ms Manake, who was accompanied by the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare, Ms Van Graan explained that her company was established in 2017 with a purpose of developing and expanding the Chobe Bream Aquaculture Fish Farming project in Kasane.

“After assessing the great demand for fish and specifically protein in Botswana, it made sense to invest in this globally fast-growing industry to provide fresh fish to the local market, lodges and tourist facilities as well as distribute to the rest of Botswana,” she explained.

She said they were currently producing fresh whole bream and the three Spot Tilapia by using a specialised Reticulating Aquaculture System with a capacity of 35 000 fish or 10 tonnes per month.

Ms Van Graan further stated that the intention was to increase production in the near future to produce 15 000 tonnes of fish per month.

“At the moment we have 50 to 80 tonnes of fish ready to be harvested.  We also plan to develop the second phase and add another 36 ponds to increase the production of fish up to 500 tonnes per annum’” she said.

She explained that the earth pond project consists of 20 half hectare earth ponds, stocked with approximately 300 000 fish. 

Ms Van Graan also stated that future plans and opportunities existed to expand the project with the establishment of a restaurant/farm stall/kiosk as well as well as retail /wholesale outlets in cities down south and rest of Botswana.

“There is also a big demand for fish fillets to restaurants, lodges and hotels countrywide.  Therefore, we are working on importing a fish filleting and fish skinning machine to supply the big demand for fillets. Other fish products and by-products could add to the expansion and diversification of this project with seemingly endless potential,” she added.

She disclosed that Aquaculture or fish farming had become one of the fastest growing sectors of the food industries worldwide.

Ms Van Graan stated that global demand for food, specifically protein, was rising rapidly and the project sought to supply the demand through an intensive recirculating system allowing for reduced water use and energy consumption. ENDS