De Heus Animal Nutrition has successfully held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Njeru, near Jinja. This state-of-the-art facility will be the first dedicated aquafeed plant in Uganda and marks an important milestone.

At full capacity, the plant will have the capability to produce approximately 50 thousand metric tons of fish feed per year, catering to the growing demand in the East African market. The company stated that they are proud to contribute to the nutrition and food security of Uganda, as fish plays a vital role in the country's diet. With the wild catch stagnating or decreasing and the population rapidly growing, farmed fish has become crucial to meet the increasing demand.

Uganda possesses immense potential for aquaculture, given its large lakes and favorable water temperatures that support year-round fish farming. By launching this plant, the company aims to provide a positive boost to the aquaculture industry in Uganda and the surrounding countries. Although the industry has shown promising growth in recent years, it requires affordable and reliable quality feeds for further development. Currently, most feeds are imported, but the local factory will offer a shorter, more flexible supply chain.

"At De Heus we believe in the potential of Africa and that is why we are investing in expanding our footprint: in South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and recently with modern factories in Ghana and Ivory Coast. And now in Uganda," Theo Smalbraak, Business Group Director Africa & Middle East said.