The Lagos State Government says it has empowered 40 youth fish farmers in
the sea caging culture system in Afowo Community in Badagry area of the
state.
Mr Gbolahan Lawal, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, made this known
during an inspection tour of the facility in Badagry.
Lawal said that the youth farmers were supplied 40 cages of 1,000 juvenile
catfish per cage under the Cage Culture Project.
According to him, the cage culture system of fish farming is one of the ways
being championed by the state government to maximise the benefits of the
abundance of water resources in the state.
The commissioner said that this accounts for about 22 per cent of the state’s
landmass.
He said that no fewer than 40,000 fishes would be harvested at the Afowo
Fish Farm in Badagry at the end of the four-month rearing period.
The commissioner described the system as an environmental friendly way of
increasing fish supply in the state as well as increasing foreign exchange which
was spent on fish importation.
Lawal said that the cage culture would create employment opportunities both
directly and indirectly.
The commissioner said that the cage culture system was a cheaper method of
fish rearing which allows fish to be reared in their natural habitat.
“The cage culture farming is an economical use of open water to develop
aquaculture and improve nutrition.
“I am particularly happy and satisfy that the local community has shown its
unflinching support for this initiative right from the installation stage.
“I am even more delighted that the cages were constructed with native
material and the fish will be fed just like in concrete fish ponds,” he said.
Lawal noted that the caging project was a continuous one with farming sites in
the riverine areas of the state including Eti-Osa, Ikorodu, Ojo and Epe local
government areas.
While commending the 40 beneficiaries, Lawal urged other fish farmers in the
state to take advantage of the cage culture initiative, adding that the state
government was ready to support and partner with anyone or group willing to
contribute to food security in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Grace Ladega, said that the empowerment was a
proof of the state government’s commitment to improve the standard of living
of rural fish farmers through the utilisation of natural endowments.
Ladega lauded Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving funds for the take-off
of the fish cage and pen culture in Afowo, Badagry.
She assured the government that each of the beneficiaries would take due
advantage of the empowerment to increase fish production in the community.
