Steven Ariong ,Teso – A large portion of the population in the Teso region, who had previously concentrated on growing legume crops, have shifted their focus to fish farming after soil fertility declined, resulting in poor harvests last year.
Last year, thousands of cassava plantations failed due to an unidentified disease, leaving many farmers with no option but to turn to fish farming.
Taking advantage of fish ponds constructed by the Ministry of Water and Environment as a pilot project for the community, farmers in Opiyai village, Soroti City East, quickly embraced fish farming.
A few community members took up the project, and they are currently earning millions of shillings from single sales.
On Monday of this week, the Soroti main market was flooded with fish harvested from the 14 fish ponds in Opiyai ward. While the farmers chose not to disclose the exact amount of their sales, it is estimated to be in the millions of shillings.
This success has attracted many Teso farmers who now prefer fish farming over crop cultivation.
Jorem Oumo, one of the farmers, stated that the current soil fertility in Teso has declined, making crop production less profitable.
“I am planning to start fish farming because, with fish farming, you can be assured of income as long as water and feed are available,” he said.
The Ministry of Water and Environment has been actively constructing fish ponds for farmers and providing financial support to assist with stocking fingerlings in the ponds.
