Diversification: Expert Calls For More Investment In Fish Farming

 Fish Farming

Dr Kunle Ajasa, a Fishery and Aquatic Management expert, has said that adequate investments by the three tiers of governments in the fishery would boost the sector in the country.

Ajasa, said this would impact on the contribution of the sector to the Nation’s economy. He said the arrangement would provide opportunities for Agricultural Scheme Managers to effectively impact best practices and skills in fish production among farmers.

The fishery expert added that the managers would also empower fish farmers on how to increase their production and attain self sufficiency.

He pointed out that the success would be achieved in collaboration with the Association of Aqua–Culture Farmers and Agro-Processors of Nigeria.

“Fish farming is a viable economic alternative for our country if the government could key into it and fund it adequately. The return on the business is quick and certain.

“Under the scheme arrangement, farmers raise the fish for about five months and the Scheme Managers then buy the fish back from the farmers as a way of empowering the fish farmers, and ensure reliable market,” he said.

Ajasa added that the Federal Government could establish fish farm estates across the states to bring about competitiveness as part of government’s diversification policy.

“Fish estates are like farm settlements where fish farmers are in clusters with land spaces allocated to them to site their ponds and settle for real business,” he said.