ABUJA – The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) on Thursday in Abuja appealed to the Federal Government to establish monitoring teams to monitor use of inputs provided for fish farmers.
The NANTS President, Mr Ken Ukaoha, made the appeal at a two-day stakeholders’ forum on aquaculture sub-sector of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
Ukaoha said that government’s efforts in providing fingerlings and other inputs for fish farmers through the GES would be in vain, if farmers were not guided in effective use of the inputs.
He expressed regretted that the fishery sub-sector had yet to feature significantly in government’s development agenda, adding that emphasis had always been on other crops such as cassava, rice and maize, among others.
He said the aquaculture sub-sector had great potential to aid agricultural growth and enhance food security in Nigeria, adding that fish is a major source of protein.
The president said the workshop was aimed at exposing and creating investment opportunities for small-scale farmers who wished to take fish farming as an alternative business option with the GES as a motivator.
He added said the workshop was also to review the current GES scheme and highlight problems and potential of aquaculture sector.
Ukaoha said the workshop would also advocate for more government interventions and assistance to enhance small-scale fish farmers’ output. [eap_ad_1] He said the GES objective of providing inputs for farmers was also intended to produce more fishermen, adding that it would lead to multiplication of fishes to feed the Nigerian population.
“This workshop recognises that the Federal Government has done its part in investing funds in the fishery sub-sector through the GES,’’ the NANTS president said.
“However, these investment would amount to nullity, if, government does not make provisions for monitoring the use of such inputs for growth and improved productivity of the aquaculture sub-sector.
“The Agricultural Transformation Agenda assert that the nation requires about 2.66 million tonnes of fish annually to satisfy citizens’ dietary requirement.
“Regrettably, the total aggregate domestic fish supply from all sources is less than 0.7million tonnes per annum, leaving the nation with no choice than to import about 1.97 million metric tonnes of fish annually to augment the shortfall.
Also speaking at the forum, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Adesina Akinwunmi, said government would do its best to provide inputs.
Akinwunmi, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mr Jackson Udueso, defined aquaculture as the rearing of selected cultivable species of fish in an enclosed conducive area like ponds.
He said that the objectives of aquaculture were import substitution, increased export earnings, wealth creation and fish food sufficiency, as well as reduction in youth restiveness. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]