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Abuja fish farmers to benefit from FG’s aquaculture programme

By BusinessNews Staff on November 4, 2013

About 840 fish farmers in Abuja will benefit from the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for the Aquaculture Value Chain.

Folake Areola, the Director of Fishery, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this on Friday at the launch of the programme at Lato and Hatchery Farm in Bwari, FCT.fish farming

The director said that 500 juveniles (fingerlings) and five bags of feed were given at subsidised rate to the registered fish farmers in the FCT.

Areola, who was represented by the GES Coordinator, Babatude John, said the aquaculture programme was timely and would help boost fish production in the country.

The director urged farmers to make proper use of the feeds given to them by the government, saying the ministry was expecting a feedback from them.

“We want a feedback on what we are giving you. If we give 500 juveniles, we are expecting that in the next five months, you must have grown them out,” he said. “We are coming back for the results. Do not go and sell the feed, make use of them.”

Dr Charles Momo, the state Director, while addressing the farmers explained that the programme was aimed at improving fish production, food security, creation of employment as well as boosting the income of the farmers.

He described the aquaculture programme as a strategy to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the country.

According to him, each registered farmer is expected to pay N12,500 for the feed instead of N25,000 while the government would pay the balance.

The state director urged the beneficiaries to redeem the input and use them properly, advising that they should see their investment as a business rather than a vocation.

Momo said there are three redemption centres in the FCT, located at Yuby Farms in Karshi, Lato and Hatchery Farm in Bwari, and Kuje Town Hall in Kuje.

Ovurevu Ademoh, the Deputy Director, Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, commended the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for the special attention accorded to fish farmers.

He urged the government to establish more fish farms to reduce importation and establish fish markets to enable farmers to market their products.

Victor Aneke, one of the beneficiaries, also commended the government for its effort and assured that they would promote fish farming.

The Chairman, Affiliated Apex Farmers Association, hailed the efforts of the government and described it as a welcome development.

“We are ready to put all our resources together to ensure that we add value to the food chain,” he said. “This will go a long way in providing jobs and wealth for us farmers. We wish to request that the government should not relent in its efforts and we will continue to give our own support.”

[Telegraph Nigeria]

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