Nigeria Gets Strategic Policy Document to Reengineer Catfish Value Chain

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in Nigeria has launched the Africa catfish value chain strategy (Fish4ACP) to further improve the catfish sub-sector in Nigeria.

The Fish4ACP initiative of the Organization for African, Caribbean and Pacific States OACPS being implemented by the FAO aims to ensure the economic social and environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture value chains In Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

It supports Nigeria’s effort to boost the catfish sector due to its potential in job creation and business opportunities.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said the fisheries sector is very strategic to Nigeria because of the increasing demand for fish production/consumption and its contribution to employment.

About 40% of Nigeria’s protein intake is from fisheries. The nation has made remarkable achievements particularly in catfish production, establishing itself as one of the major catfish producing nations globally.

Catfish represents approximately 90% of Nigeria’s fish farming activities and our aquaculture production has grown from 22.000 tonnes in 1999 to over 300.000 tonnes in 2017.

More so, Catfish production alone generates an estimated 1 million direct and indirect jobs throughout the value chain with these figures increasing overtime.

According to Dr. Umakhihe, considering the potential of Nigeria to contribute to food security and job creation, the Federal Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture is committed to further increasing aquaculture production by an additional 250.000MT in order to meet domestic demands and reduce fish import.

EU

The representative of the EU delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Project Manager Frank Okafor said Fisheries and aquaculture plays a significant role in Africa’s economic development, food security, and poverty reduction.

“The EU and the German Government have long recognized the importance of investing in the fisheries sector, both as a means of livelihood for communities and as a contributor to the overall economic growth of the continent. Through the Fish4ACP Program, we aim to strengthen the capacities of African countries to sustainably manage their fisheries resources, enhance the competitiveness of the sector, and foster regional cooperation”.

“By supporting the African Catfish Strategy, we strive to address the challenges faced by catfish farmers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond” he added.

Mr. Okafor noted that the strategy aligns with their vision of promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development, creating employment opportunities, and improving food security.

The EU representative further called for strong partnerships between governments, international organizations, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to ensure proper implementation of the strategy.

VISON

The President of Fisheries Society of Nigeria Dr. Ebinimi Ansa in her goodwill message said launching the African Catfish Strategy is a significant milestone in boosting the aquaculture potentials in Africa.

“The launch of this strategy marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to harness the potential of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. By focusing on the value chain approach, we recognize the importance of all stakeholders, from farmers to processors, traders, and consumers, in driving the growth and development of the farmed catfish sector”.

Dr. Ansa called on stakeholders to embrace sustainability principles, promote responsible aquaculture practices, and safeguard our aquatic ecosystems.

The FISH4ACP is a global fish value chain development programme set up by the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), implemented by FAO; and funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.