N500m Subsidy: Catfish Farmers Laud LASG On Feed Distribution

The Lagos State Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN) has lauded the Lagos State Government on the seamless distribution of its initial feed subsidy for farmers in the state.

The 1st Vice-President of LASCAFAN, Mr Olatoye Fajimi, said this on Thursday in Lagos.

Fajimi appreciated the government for keeping to its promise and ensuring seamless distribution of feed to the farmers in the state.

The Lagos State Government through its N500 million Ounje Eko Farmers Subsidy Programme (Ounje Eko FSP) is empowering farmers with a 25 per cent subsidy on animal feeds (poultry and fish).

The initiative is aimed at boosting local agricultural production in the state.

The distribution of the feed subsidy began on February 5 and will be done all Wednesdays in the month of February.

Fajimi who commended the commencement of the intervention said if sustained would bring down production costs in the subsector.

“The Lagos State feed subsidy started on a good note on Wednesday.

“We had more than 100 fish farmers at the Ikorodu alone who benefited from the intervention and a good number of poultry farmers also benefitted.

“This intervention will go a long way to benefit farmers because right now about 70 to 80 per cent of our production cost is spent on feed.

“This means if a farmer is spending N1 million to produce fish, for instance, that implies that he is spending about N800,000 or N700,000 alone on feed.

So, with the state government taking off 25 per cent of that cost, then that is a lot in terms of reducing cost.

“Though the quantity they are giving each farmer is not much, but for smallholder farmers especially, it is very significant.

“For largescale farmers, it may not be so much, but for smallholder farmers, it is a lot. Within the month, a farmer will be able to buy about 40 bags of feed.

“The intervention still goes a long way to ease the burden in the sector, what the government is doing is very laudable,” Fajimi said.

He also reiterated the essence of the intervention in cutting down the price of fish in local markets if sustained.

“It is a very wonderful project, actually, because we have more than 50 per cent catfish producers in Nigeria who are smallholder farmers.

“If the intervention is sustained, it will in the long run bring down the price of fish in the market.

“The production cycle in fish farming is usually between four and six months.

So, if the government does the intervention for just maybe one month, like is being proposed now, it will not contribute significantly.

“However, if it is something that is sustained maybe for the next three, four, five months, it will go a long way to reduce operating costs in fish farming,” he said.

On his part, Mr Femi Samo, the Chairman, LASCAFAN Agege zone, appreciated the government’s efforts in sector as he seeks its continuity.

“At the Agege zone, the distribution of the feed to farmers who had paid, went seamlessly. We appreciate our members for the decorum they displayed at the distribution.

“We also appreciate the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems for the intervention.

“The next collection date is on February 12, we encourage all farmers in the state to take advantage of the intervention,” Samo said.

In corroboration, the Chairman LASCAFAN, Epe Zone, Mr Gbenga Akinsanya, said the increase in the formation of the feed would help the farmers’ productivity.

“From Epe zone, the feed did not arrive on time, it arrived at about past 11a.m.

“The exercise was successful, all those who paid for the feed got their bags of feed.

“We really appreciate the government’s kind gesture towards the farmers at this time,” Akinsanya said.