CATFISH |
Catfish farmers have been advised to key
into the international demand for the commodity, by packaging and
exporting their produce.
An Aquaculture Consultant, Mr Tajudeen Morakinyo, while speaking
with newsmen said that produce exporting would improve their income,
grow their business to international recognition and also improve the
nation’s agricultural sector.
The huge trade in smoked fish is a consequence of the growing
demand by the increasing number of Africans living in the Diaspora. The
U.S. and Europe remain the major destinations for Africans, who venture
abroad. It is noteworthy that up to 40 percent of smoked fish exported
from Africa is detained, returned or destroyed at the U.S. and European
ports, due to improper packaging and labeling.
Morakinyo said that farmers needed to improve their farm practices,
to tap into the available market for the export of smoked fish.
“First, the smoked and dried fish must be well-processed and
preserved. If the fish is not smoked, using the right wood, charcoal or
technique, it may end up with high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAH). These substances are considered by the U.S. and the
European Union to be dangerous to human health and are claimed to cause
cancer. Smoked fish consignments containing more than five micrograms
per kilogram of these substances may not be allowed into the U.S. and
the E.U.,” he said.
Morakinyo added that farmers needed to get in touch with relevant
authorities, to understand their requirements and ensure that they are
in compliance with paperwork and other prescribed conditions.
He advised aquaculture farmers to follow due process to build a flourishing export business.
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