The Nigerian government has announced plans to establish six new “fish farming estates” around Lagos as a means of increasing fish production and promoting employment.
Salihu Abdullahi made this known while addressing the meeting of the Catfish Farmers Association of
Similar estates have already been established by state governments in several parts of Nigeria, with the assurance of support from the federal government, to help produce fish, a major component of the Nigerian diet, for the rapidly-increasing population. Employment creation was also a major consideration. They were established in areas with good, naturally occurring water supply, and the local governments committed themselves to support the farmers with infrastructure and capital.
"This support has not always been forthcoming, but fish farming activities at the Lagos State Government’s Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate received a major boost with the start of construction in August of a 1-kilometre drainage system to check the perennial flooding."
He added that the system will gather excess water and lead it from the farming areas to the canal and a water plant has also been constructed to supply the 194 plots.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, said that “the plant will enable fish farmers to make substantial savings for occupants of the plots, which should result in a reduction of the cost of fish production”. She predicts an increase in the estate’s fish production from 10,000 to 16,000 tonnes per year.
Sunday Amodu, an aquaculture technician who works for several fish farmers on the estates, believes that the construction of the drainage and water plant is commendable, albeit long overdue.
“They will help solve the problem of flooding and erratic water supply. A reliable market, possibly an off-taker arrangement, will encourage the farmers. The high cost of electricity is another major problem that needs to be addressed,” he said.
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