Nigeria World’s Largest Catfish Producers, Generates 2.6Billion USD Annually- FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), says Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of African catfish with an annual production worth 2.6 billion USD.

The Country Representative of the FAO Fred Kafeero made the disclosure at the launch of the Africa Catfish Value Chain Strategy, (FISH4ACP) in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

Mr. Kaffero said Nigeria is an integral part of the development of the catfish value chain.

“For us at FAO, Nigeria is a very important and strategic member state in the Development and upgrading this value chain. Besides being Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is also the world’s largest producer of African catfish, with an estimated annual production of 1m tons (in 2021), worth around USD 2.6billion”

According to him, available data shows that Nigeria’s Catfish Sub-sector provides employment to about 1 million people in the country.

“Additionally Nigeria has an estimated 285 000 producers of which small-scale farmers represent over 60%”.

“The catfish value chain itself offers employment to some 1 million people. This is data according to the value chain analysis conducted by FISH4ACP and the FMARD, which underpins the strategy we are launching today”

Kafeero noted that the strategy development process involved sector-wide dialogue involving public and private sector stakeholders while calling on stakeholders involved to work together in ensuring a successful implementation of strategy.

The FISH4ACP strategy aims to reinforce Nigeria’s catfish value chain by offering a roadmap to make the Catfish sub-sector more resilient and efficient in providing affordable food, creating jobs and providing business opportunities.

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.