Fish Farmers Decry High Production Cost

The Fisheries Association of Nigeria, FAN, says the economic challenges in the country are affecting the growth of the sector.

The President of FAN, Akwa Ibom chapter, Mr Okon Amah, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday in Lagos.

Amah noted that the difficulties in running fish farms were crippling the sector, adding that many farmers had been forced to close shop.

According to him, fish farmers in the country are feeling frustrated and abandoned following the difficulties they face in the sector.

”We now have to contend with the ever increasing cost of production, especially fish feed.

”This is worrisome considering that everyone eats fish in Nigeria and beyond,” Amah said.

He said the exclusion of fisheries and aquaculture sector from the food security roadmap of the Federal Government was not good for the sector.

“Recently, the roadmap for food security was released in the United Nation Food Summit in Italy by the Ministry of Agriculture, and surprisingly, aquaculture and fisheries were missing.

“Does it mean that the Federal Government have no single plan for an industry generating billions for other countries? Does it mean that we have no agenda for the blue economy?

“We are tired of the fact that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development usually exclude aquaculture and fisheries from their immediate attention.

”This needs a priority. Otherwise, the adverse effects are going to be alarming,” Amah said.

He called on the federal government to step into the situation and come to their aid.

“We are tired of reducing the price of our produce.

”Buyers discourage farmers because they know our goods are perishable, so we are forced to sell at any price just to get them off our farm, then we shut down farm.

“We are tired of the fact that nothing is subsidised for us in spite of our continuous improvement to produce better quality protein for the country.

“Statistics has shown that about 45 per cent of Nigerians do not have access to a good protein diet. This needs an urgent executive bill, and the Federal Government needs to step in,” he said.

Amah said the association was tired of fighting to stay afloat due to the high cost of production.

He noted that fish farmers need intervention from the governments and the organised private sector for survival.

NAN/Shakirat Sadiq