LUSAKA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Wednesday that it will not allow imports of fish that can be locally produced despite the prevailing fish deficit in the country.
Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Michael Katambo said the government will only allow for the importation of exotic fishes not found in any of the country's water bodies.
The government's vision, he said, was to ensure that the country becomes a net exporter of fish in the next two years.
The Zambian government is this year targeting 12,000 youths and women to venture into fish farming and benefit from the loan, he added.
"As a ministry, we have already put in place measures that will ensure that the youths and women selected from all 10 provinces are trained in fish farming," he said in a statement released by his office.
The government has already secured a 50-million-U.S.-dollar loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at growing the fish industry and President Edgar Lungu will officially launch the loan program, he said.
