Fish Farming: 800 Lagos farmers benefit from LASG, BATNF fish processing, hatchery training

 Fish Farming: 800 Lagos farmers benefit from LASG, BATNF fish processing, hatchery training

Training

By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, Nov.19, 2021(NAN) The Lagos State Government in collaboration with British American Tobacco Nigerian Foundation (BATNF) have trained 800 farmers on  catfish  processing and hatchery to meet the huge demand of Lagos residents.

Ms Ruth Olusanya, the Commissioner for Agricultural Lagos State, in his remarks during the closing ceremony of the Capacity Building at Oko-Oba Lagos, thanked the BATNF for its continuous support in agricultural sector in the state. 

"I will like to extend my greatest appreciation to BATNF for its continuous support over the years to agriculture sector in the state even at a challenging period of COVID-19.

"The training has assisted Lagos residents during the pandemic which has occasioned the disruption of global sociopolitical, socioeconomic and financial systems with its attendant losses in human lives, job loss and impediments in supply chains to mention but few," he said.

Olusanya who is represented by Bar. Oluyemisi Roshiji, Director of Administration and Human Resources Min. Of Agriculture said that the training began in 2018 with the establishment of capacity building facilities such as fish hatchery and fish processing.

According to her, a group of trained farmers will be equipped with 250kg capacity smoking kiln.

The commissioner said that three farmers cooperative society were empowered to address the challenge of huge losses due to the volatile market price and thus increase their income.

Roshiji said that the training was geared towards efforts to fast track the development of the agricultural sector in the state.

"The capacity building will no doubt help in boosting fish production and sustain the existing efforts of the state government in area of food security.

"Agbelere Fish Farmers Cooperative Society, the Great Achievers Fish Farmers Society in Ikorodu and Abundant Fish Farmers Cooperative Society, Ayobo Ipaja respectively were empowered to address the challenge of huge losses due to the volatile market price and thus increase their income," she said.

Mr Hakeem Adeniji, the Permanent Secretary Ministry Of  Agriculture Lagos State in his remarks said that task of feeding the Lagos residents was enormous as population of the state continue to increase.

"It is no longer news that the population of the state continues to increase on daily basis.

"And the task of producing enough food to meet the demand of the growing population through various agricultural researches and technologies are enormous.

"Protein is the most expensive component of food required in large quantity by man and livestock as the relevance of animal protein compared to plant cannot be overemphasised," he said.

According to him, fish protein has been acclaimed to be healthier for consumption than meat especially as you advanced in age leading to higher demand of fish produce.

Adeniji represented by Mr Emmanuel Audu, Director of Fishery Ministry of Agriculture said that flexibility of fish farming has no doubt encouraged involvement of both older and younger people in fish farming as a means of living.

According to him, catfish farming has dominated aquaculture industry in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole for more than two decades because of hardiness, fast growth, acceptance of artificial feed and good market price.

"Acceptability of the smoked form of catfish has further enhanced its popularity among the consumer.

"As Lagos state becomes a 21st century economy, there is need to sustain existing efforts of the agricultural sector in ensuring food security and also introduce new solutions.

"At the same time, I will like to congratulate all the beneficiaries of today's programme and urge them to make good use of this opportunity to better their standard of living and train other fish farmers in their community.

Mr Dare Odusanya, the Project Manager BATNF said in his remarks that the Phrase ‘No Farmer, No Nation’ as has been echoed reflects the important role played by farmers in 

ensuring that food was always on the table.

"It was a pleasure to be here on this great day to empower a fish 

farmers’ group with a two-hundred-and-fifty-kilogram coal 

powered smoking kiln. 

"The Phrase ‘No Farmer, No Nation’ as has been echoed here 

today reflects the important role played by farmers in 

ensuring that food is always on the table.

"Needless to say,

that without well-nourished meals none of us would be here; 

but beyond providing us nutritious food items, farmers are 

the pillars of the agricultural sector, a sector often described 

as the future of Nigeria and in some quarters.

Odusanya said that Fish farming was considered an important agricultural activity 

that could end nutritional deficiencies of the world and 

contribute to poverty reduction. 

No wonder, according to the

GDP data released by the National Bureau of Statistics 

(NBS) for Q1 2021, the fisheries sector had a 3.24 per cent contribution to the country's GDP. 

In addition, the sub-

sector generates employment and income for a significant 

number of artisans,fishermen and small traders," he added.

According to him, despite the high potential of aquaculture, marine and 

freshwater fisheries, we are unable to meet the domestic 

demand for fish. 

He said it was therefore imperative to seek new and 

innovative ways to bridge the gaps.

"This presents a case for business opportunity for smallholder 

farmers to raise their incomes by adopting innovative and 

sustainable practices to boost production, create 

employment and maintain their livelihood.

"Over time, in our support to farmers, we observed that in 

addition to teaching them good agricultural practices for 

improved fish production it is also important to provide 

access to markets.

"And we empower them to add value to their 

commodity, so they are immune to price instability," Odusanya added.

The projects manager said since 2018, through their partnership with the Lagos state Agricultural 

Development Authority we have been able to achieve the 

programme outputs. 

He said that the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has 

successfully achieved a 360-degree project intervention in 

aquaculture. 

"I congratulate the Like Mind Fish Farmers Cooperative

Society, who after a thorough selection process, emerged as 

the beneficiaries of the smoking kiln. I ask that you use

this opportunity to transform your businesses and to be more 

dedicated, committed, and diligent to improve your lives.

"With this support and trainings on best practices in fish 

hatchery, processing, and packaging, it is our desire that your 

business and income will grow tremendously and ultimately 

you will begin to export to countries within and beyond the 

West Africa region," he added.

Dr Olalekan Pereira-Sheteolu, the Programme Manager, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) in his remarks thanks the BATNF for its continuous support in training farmers in the state.

He congratulated the beneficiaries and implored them to make good use of the golden opportunity to boost fish production and processing in the state.

 Mr Dele Adelowo, one of the beneficiaries thanked LSADA such important capacity building to boost their fish businesses.

" This is a great opportunity to partake in this kind of capacity building in fish hatchery and processing, no doubt the training will go along way in improving the standard of the beneficiaries, " he said. (NAN).