Imbonggu to export fish - Post Courier

FISH farming at Kanapul village of Imbonggu District in Southern Highlands Province has met the international quality standard for exportation, as announced by the National Fisheries Authority.

Originally farmed and produce by local fish farmer James Anjo, the quality and quantity of fish has attracted international market especially China.

The National Fisheries Authority flew to Imbonggu recently to inform Mr Anjo to prepare himself to start exporting seven to 10 tonnes of fresh catch as of next year, 2025.

“Imbonggu District is placed at a location where there is no other natural resources to bring cash flow or sustain livelihood of the locals.

“However, I feel that God has placed us at a very swampy area to identify and embrace the potential of fish farming” said Mr Amjo.

He recalled that after his retirement in 2018 as a flight attendant with Air Niugini, he ventured straight into fish farming when realising this great opportunity.

“I started off with digging three 13×20 metres ponds, and placed only 20 fingerlings in 2018.“Now I have five big 20×35 metres ponds with more than 20,000 fish in them, which I sell to big supermarkets in Mt Hagen and other centres.

“Meanwhile, I am digging another five more 20×35 metres ponds this year to grow extra 20 000 starting next year so that the 10 ponds would produce about 120 000 fish for market,” said Mr Anjo.

He said from the 33 support farmers he has in Imbonggu, the confidence is there to meet the international demand when exportation starts. Mr Anjo added that more and more fish ponds will be dug on the six hectares that he prepared purposely for fish farming, and as time goes by he would expand.

He is the leading fish farmer in the district where a total of 33 average fish farmers are under his leadership while more than 300 other small fish farming were still learning from him.

He farms three types of fish which are Rainbow trout, Super Tilapia and Common Carp, in which the Rainbow trout and Super Tilapia are on high demand, and would be exported.

“Another key idea for farming fish was to encourage Highlanders to cut-off with the consumption of pork, chicken and lamb flaps, as fish was of great health benefits.”

Mr Anjo expressed gratitude to NFA for recognising his fish farm by coming on board to provide a great path of exporting locally grown Imbonggu fish to the international market.

He has called on the Southern Highlands Provincial Government to have a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with NFA to help the other fish farmers who just got on board with needed materials like cement bag, pipes, fish fingerlings to venture into this economic activity for a constant supply.