Most fish farms built in past decade in Balkh closed

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): More than 46 fish farms were built in northern Balkh province during the past decade, but currently only 15 of them are functioning and the rest have been closed.

The reasons behind the closure of the majority of fish farms include high prices of fish feed, drought and government apathy.

Dost Mohammad, a fish farm owner in Samarqandian area of Balkh province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that when he first established his farm four years ago the then government provided 800 baby fishes to him and  then he was forgotten.

He said during the past four years he earned no profit from the farm and still he could not afford to buy feed for the fishes.

Dost Mohammad asked the government to support fish farmers so that they could supply quality fish meat to the market.

Sher Ahmad, another fish farmer, told Pajhwok many fish farms were operational in Balkh in the past, but most of them were closed due to increased because of fish feed and government’s apathy.

Mohammad Hashim, another farm owner, expressed similar views and said if the government did not extend its support, the remaining fish farms will also be closed.

He said: “Fish feed is expensive, we have no income from our farm, why should we suffer losses, we need to close the farm”.

Balkh Agriculture and Livestock Department officials admit the problems being faced by fish farmers.

Mohammad Waki Niazi, farming specialist at the department confirmed to Pajhwok that 46 fish farms had been created in Balkh province during the past decade.

But 31 of the farms were closed due to high feed prices, drought and a kind of disease, he added.

However, he said they were trying to solve the problems of fish farmers in cooperation with aid agencies.

Besides Balkh, many fish farms have been closed in Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces.

aw/ma

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