Nigeria’s annual fish importation estimated at N50bn
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:16 pmIt has been observed that Nigeria spends about N50 billion on fish importation annually due to inadequacy in the fish production level put at 500,000 metric tonnes as against 1.5 million metric tonnes needed annually in Nigeria.
The observation was made by a fish farmer, Dr. Lanre Ogunshina in a television programme, ‘PERISCOPE’ monitored in Port Harcourt last weekend.
He lamented the inability of the country not to produce the needed capacity of fish, and added that Nigeria can only boast of producing one third of the demand.
According to him, substituting the shortfall of one million tonnes by importation affects the country’s foreign reserve as well as has a direct bearing on the economy.
He called on the federal government to create enabling environment by enacting legislations and policies that would encourage greater participation in fish production.
Lack of awareness of the business potentials of fish farming has become a bane on fish production, added that to bridge the imbalance, people must be sensitised on the need to go into fish production, through training workshops, capacity building, public lectures among others, he emphasised.
Fish farmers he said, should be encouraged through micro credit and other incentives, specially as it affects the availability of good quality feeds that have required nutritional value.
He commended the federal government for setting aside N50 billion for the purposes of supporting farmers in various capacities with a view to increasing the general agricultural product level.
Dr. Ogunshina urged Nigerians to venture into fish production with a view to complementing government efforts towards fish production in the country.
The observation was made by a fish farmer, Dr. Lanre Ogunshina in a television programme, ‘PERISCOPE’ monitored in Port Harcourt last weekend.
He lamented the inability of the country not to produce the needed capacity of fish, and added that Nigeria can only boast of producing one third of the demand.
According to him, substituting the shortfall of one million tonnes by importation affects the country’s foreign reserve as well as has a direct bearing on the economy.
He called on the federal government to create enabling environment by enacting legislations and policies that would encourage greater participation in fish production.
Lack of awareness of the business potentials of fish farming has become a bane on fish production, added that to bridge the imbalance, people must be sensitised on the need to go into fish production, through training workshops, capacity building, public lectures among others, he emphasised.
Fish farmers he said, should be encouraged through micro credit and other incentives, specially as it affects the availability of good quality feeds that have required nutritional value.
He commended the federal government for setting aside N50 billion for the purposes of supporting farmers in various capacities with a view to increasing the general agricultural product level.
Dr. Ogunshina urged Nigerians to venture into fish production with a view to complementing government efforts towards fish production in the country.