Fish earnings up to $166 million
Jun 03, 2004
Uganda earned $166.8m from 4,598.8 metric tonnes of fish exported during April and March
By Macrines Nyapendi
Uganda earned $166.8m from 4,598.8 metric tonnes of fish exported during April and March, a great addition to the sector’s revenue despite stiff competition at the end markets.
Fisheries commissioner Dick Nyeko said there was an appreciation of 40% in tonnage and 23% in value in March and a shortfall of 10% in quantity and 0.2% in earnings compared to February.
“The fish market is very volatile and the prices erratic. Uganda cannot compete favourably with other countries because of the high freight charges,†Nyeko said.
Compared to March 2004, the April tonnage went down by 3.5%, while the value rose by 2.2%. In comparison to the same month last year, April had an 18% and 22% increment in quantity and revenue respectively.
A total of 2,339.74 metric tonnes of fish were exported in March to the European Union and non-European countries fetching $8.3m. An additional $8.4m was earned from 2,259.06 tonnes in April.
Immature fishing and smuggling to the neighbouring countries have been the major problem of the fisheries department.
The country loses an estimated $90m (about sh180b) annually in illegal unrecorded and unregulated trade.
“Kenya has only 6% of Lake Victoria but it has put up 16 processing plants and earns $200m per annum. We clap loudly on recording merely $80m when we own 43% of the lake,†FXM Kizza, the assistant commissioner, said.
Fish worth $30m is smuggled through Katuna, Mpondwe and Ishasha to the DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo Brazzaville every year.
Kizza said an estimated $60m is lost through Malaba and Busia to Kenya annually.
Uganda earned $166.8m from 4,598.8 metric tonnes of fish exported during April and March, a great addition to the sector’s revenue despite stiff competition at the end markets.
Fisheries commissioner Dick Nyeko said there was an appreciation of 40% in tonnage and 23% in value in March and a shortfall of 10% in quantity and 0.2% in earnings compared to February.
“The fish market is very volatile and the prices erratic. Uganda cannot compete favourably with other countries because of the high freight charges,†Nyeko said.
Compared to March 2004, the April tonnage went down by 3.5%, while the value rose by 2.2%. In comparison to the same month last year, April had an 18% and 22% increment in quantity and revenue respectively.
A total of 2,339.74 metric tonnes of fish were exported in March to the European Union and non-European countries fetching $8.3m. An additional $8.4m was earned from 2,259.06 tonnes in April.
Immature fishing and smuggling to the neighbouring countries have been the major problem of the fisheries department.
The country loses an estimated $90m (about sh180b) annually in illegal unrecorded and unregulated trade.
“Kenya has only 6% of Lake Victoria but it has put up 16 processing plants and earns $200m per annum. We clap loudly on recording merely $80m when we own 43% of the lake,†FXM Kizza, the assistant commissioner, said.
Fish worth $30m is smuggled through Katuna, Mpondwe and Ishasha to the DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo Brazzaville every year.
Kizza said an estimated $60m is lost through Malaba and Busia to Kenya annually.