Why Fish prices are going down? Measures in Place
Dear stakeholders, concerns have been raised at Parliament level and by the Association of Fishers and Lake Users on the ever falling fish prices with fishers planning to put down their tools and stop fishing and supplying fish to factories.
i. It is important to note that prices of fish in Uganda like any commodity are dictated by supply and demand both on the domestic market and international markets.
ii. On the domestic market, there has been increased catches of Tilapia following improved fishing methods as a result of improved enforcement activities. While this is positive, the increased supply has naturally led to the decline of fish prices following the law of demand and supply.
iii. The prices of Nile perch are governed by the demand in the international markets. Currently, the orders in the International market have reduced and so have the prices per kilogram. At the beginning of the year the price per kilogram in the international market averaged US $ 5.8 per kilogram but this has been steadily falling with the average falling as low as US$2.94 per kilogram.
iv. At local level, the factories are offering prices ranging from 11,500/= per kilogram for fish of 1.5 – 2 kg and up to 35,000/= for bigger fish. The price of Nile perch in the local market is dictated by the price of fish maw. Fish with fish maw cost more per kilogram than fish where fish maw has been received.
v. The prices of other species have remained unchanged and overall, Uganda is still offering better prices in the region compared to Tanzania and Kenya
vi. It is also reported that there is an influx of Tilapia fish in the region from developed countries but not the case in Uganda although it passes enrooted to DRC hence reduced market at regional level
vii. The fact that in past immature fish was being smoked or sundried for the regional markets and now that the current enforcement regime has curtailed this practice, such fish mass which is expected to have now increased (i.e. allowed to mature) is now supply locally.
3.0 MEASURES IN PLACE
Dear Stakeholders, my Ministry is still committed to addressing challenges that arise in the fishing industry working with all stakeholders both in the public and private sector. The following measures/strategies are being implemented:
i. Guidelines for trade in artisanal processed fish have been developed to guide regional trade in smoked fish and this will open up market avenue with high shelf life fish products
ii. Guidelines for fish maw handling and trade have also been developed and issued to stakeholders with the purpose of providing for a streamlined value chain flow and involvement of all actors, with minimum standards for any gutting facility for fish at local market level and including facilitating government revenue generation.
iii. The Ministry has updated the lists of all fish processing establishments and submitted to international markets with a view of expanding our market for Nile perch
iv. In collaboration with Walimi Fish Cooperative Society a Fish market has been opened at KCCA market at Wandegeya for farmed fish and a cold chain system is required to facilitate marketing of quality fish in Kampala but can also act as a regional market access point.
v. Initiatives are on to promote certification and eco-labelling (branding) of our fish products so that they can access higher products at international level
vi. The Ministry has a new National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, approved by Cabinet in 2018 and strategies there in are being implemented on top of the above aiming at improving the fisheries subsector along the whole value chain and working with all MDA and stakeholders.
vii. The Ministry is promoting improved fish production technologies to ensure low cost of production and hence facilitate levelled completion in the market
viii. Invitation has been made to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, The Chairman Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association and the Association of Fishers and Lake Users Association for a meeting on Tuesday 9th April 2019 to objectively discuss this matter.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The Ministry calls upon all stakeholders especially the fishing community and fish processors to desist from actions that may disrupt and interfere with the market accessibility. Stakeholders in the fisheries subsector will continue to be engaged on equitable benefit sharing from the fishing industry while cautious of maintaining our market by observing high standard of quality and safety of fish and all fish products.
SIGNED BY,
Hon. Vincent Bumulangaki Ssempijja (MP)
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES.