Ugandan farmers have been challenged to take advantage of the increasing global tilapia fish demand by boosting production.
Latest reports from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO Globefish) released early this month, indicate that the international tilapia trade has grown due to demand from the United States and many non-traditional emerging markets.
According to Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association (UFPEA) vice chaiperson Phillip Borel, “The global demand for tilapia is good for Ugandan farmers who should use it to their advantage by producing more fish.”
According to the Globefish report, there is increased production of farmed tilapia in the major producing countries of China, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Thailand and Bangladesh.
The Globefish report adds that the popularity of tilapia, including the high value, air-flown fresh fillet, continues to grow among US consumers posting all-time records.
Although imports in all product categories increased in volume only marginally (+2.9 per cent) last year, the value of tilapia imports crossed over $1 billion, which was 7% higher than the value of imports in 2012.
In Africa, countries such as Ghana imported about 2,600 tonnes of tilapia from China in 2013, mostly in whole frozen form. The average Chinese export prices were $1.90 per kilogramme.
African countries are increasingly becoming the target markets for Chinese tilapia, especially for whole frozen products.
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