The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Eng Estanislau da Silva said in 2016 it will stop farming catfish because this has not brought benefits to the community given that the government has to spend too much money in oxygen and special fodder for the catfish.
He added that instead, MAF will invest in farming tilapia, a different kind of farmed fish.
“We won’t spend as much farming the tilapia fish because they cost lest to farm than catfish,” said Minister Silva in Dili.
The Minister added tilapia fish will be imported from Indonesia and then distributed to cooperative groups and other who might want to farm it.
“It grows faster and can easily adapt to a new environment. We will import thousands,” he said.
Meanwhile National Member of Parliament MP Paulino Monteiro Soares Babo said he support the new program but urged more adequate control to ensure the program is sustainable.
“We should control and it should be managed properly,” said MP Babo.
He also urged the government to invest in modern equipment and more qualified human resources.
MP Babo is concerned though because there are only a few fish farmers in Timor-Leste which makes the price of fish expensive.
“It is expensive now but we can reduce the price if there are more fish farms,” he said.
He hopes the program will improve fish production in the country.
Meanwhile resident Manuel Branco said despite thinking this is a good program that previous results with similar programs have not been adequate.
“They offer boats, fish but if they do not control their use, it is useful,” he added also.
