Invest More In Fish Farming To Diversify The Economy, Expert Advises

A Fishery and Aquatic Management expert, Dr. Kunle Ajasa, has said that adequate investments by the three tiers of governments in the fish farming would boost the country’s economy.

Ajasa, made this disclosure in an interview Concise News obtained from NAN on Monday in Osogbo. He 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 also 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.

The road map

“Fish farming is a viable economic alternative if the Nigerian 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. Thereafter, the Scheme Managers buy the fish back from the farmers. This arrangement will serve to empower the fish farmers as well as ensure reliable market,” he said.

He, therefore, admonished the FG to establish fish farm estates across the states as part of its diversification policy. He’s of the opinion that this will bring about competitiveness in the sector.

“Fish estates are like farm settlements where fish farmers are in clusters. Each farmer gets a plot of land to site their ponds and settle for real business,” he said.