The Federal Government said on Monday that 760 fish farmers in Kwara received fish feeds and juveniles (fingerlings) worth N21 million under its Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES).
Mr Wahab Ademola, the Assistant Director, Fishery, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, made this known in an interview with greenhealthyfarm in Ilorin.
“The scheme has significant impact on the lives of the benefitting fish farmers.
“The scheme has brought about enormous and profound effects on the country’s capacity for fish production.
“The project has not only increased fish production but also enhanced job creation among the youths and retirees who pick interest in fish farming.”
Ademola said that this was an ample opportunity to ascertain the level of progress and development the GES had made and the subsequent recommendations and suggestions made by the farmers.
The director said that the rationale behind the introduction of GES was to discourage importation of foreign fish and boost local production in order to make Nigeria to be self-sufficient in fish production in the next four years.
Ademola pledged that the Federal Government would do everything possible to ensure that more farmers benefit from the next GES roll-out
He hinted that efforts would be made to increase the number of ‘juveniles’ from 500 to about 2,000 and provide feeds that would feed them up to table size.
Ademola enumerated some of the challenges confronting farmers to include the lack of training, boreholes, fish processing centres, fish markets and inconsistent policies, among others.
He assured the farmers that their requests would be tabled before the minister for further consideration.
Ademola said that GES had proved to be an eye opener and a window of opportunity to many Nigerians, adding that the scheme had added more value to fish production in the country.
He further urged the state government to key into the initiative in its bid creative employment for youths. (NAN)
