The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Development is intent on seeing to it that the rural centres and settlement along the coast are able to get communications and internment services soonest; and now concerted efforts are underway to provide the services that are indispensable and cannot be done without.
This move follows a recent feasibility study undertaken by the ministry with the aim of boosting the industry pointed to the fact that a striking lack of communications facilities such as phones and the internet was a major inhibitor that curtailed or impeded swift marketing services for the highly perishable produce.
In effect, as per the study reports, the ministry sought the addressing of the issue by availing the facts to the ministry concerned, which in turn facilitated a round-table with the service providers operating in the country.
The meeting that brought together the Minister of Communications and Technology Hon. Ahmed Yusuf Idris and the Fisheries Minister Hon. Mohamoud Warsame Jama, and both their DGs, also saw the attendances of the officials from the largest communications services providers, TELESOM and SOMTEL.
The meeting was in agreement that the lack of the telecommunications services was indeed a stumbling block to the marketing of the fishing industry.
Given that fish is a perishable product that if not swiftly transported will degrade fast by decomposing, the consensus was that the services should be available to the affected fishing centers.
The implementation of internet and communication services will be a success for the communities living on the coasts, and thus finding a solution to the sale of the fish swiftly through fast-track messaging, texting or communicating between the fishermen in their boats, the coastal centers and the major towns inland.
