Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, stated this at the State Secretariat in Abeokuta while receiving delegates of the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN).

Odedina who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Sorunke, assured the fish farmers of the government’s intervention in covering the deficit in the agricultural sector in the state.

He stressed the fact that catfish farming was a major sector that contributed tremendously to the economic growth of the state.

“You are an important partner to the state, so, be rest assured that the Ogun State government is in support of your association.

“Whatever you need to lift the association, Ogun State government through the honourable Commissioner of Agriculture is ready to give.

“There will be more integration; we will need records of your members so that we can link them up with further opportunities. So be rest assured that Ogun State is ready to support you,” Odedina stated.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Fisheries Service in Ogun State, Mrs. Victoria Omolara Ojelade, charged catfish farmers to engage youths in their activities to improve production and sustainability.

Omolara said, “I want you to engage youths, young graduates, students, so they can enlarge the production of catfish and whatever the challenges, they would overcome it since they are partnering with the state government and department of fisheries.”

In his remark, the Chairman of the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter and Chairman Beulah Farms, Mr. Samuel Olubodun noted that the association is working assiduously towards complementing the effort of the government in the eradication of hunger in the state and country at large.

Olubodun buttressed that CAFAN contributes to the country’s GDP as they are working on importing catfish to the western world for an exchange for foreign currencies and encourage the production of homegrown feeds in the country.