Ministry of Fisheries to assist fish farmers

Akyem Soabe, April 3, GNA - The Ministry of Fisheries is determined to assist individuals and groups to go into large scale fish farming in view of the depleting marine fish catches.

In the light of this, the Ministry has decided to assist fish farmers with fingerlings to stock their ponds in addition to feed for six months.

At the end of the period, the fingerlings would have been ready for harvesting after which the farmers would be expected to pay back what they owe the Ministry.

Mr Samuel Manu, Eastern Regional Director of Fisheries, announced this when he addressed members of the Kwaebibrem Fish Farmers Association who had paid a two-day study visit to Kenneth and K. Farms at Soabe to learn at first hand how to run a fish farm.

He said the Ministry was also considering fish farmers request for assistance for the construction of the fishponds.

Mr Manu said aquaculture was a big money making venture, which should be taken seriously to supplement the country's marine fish catches that were fast depleting and to cut down on fish importation. He called on fish farmers to seek technical advice from the Fisheries Department when constructing ponds.

The farmers witnessed harvesting of fish from one of the five fishponds on the farm.

The Manager of the Kenneth and K Farms, Miss Vida Ampofoa Kwapong said her late father, Mr Kenneth Awuku Kwapong to help improve the protein intake of the people of the area, established the farm in 1982.

The President of the Kwaebibirem Fish Farmers Association, Mr Samuel Afum-Ankrah said members of the Association were anxious to contribute their quota to meeting the protein needs of the people by producing wholesome fish to meet demand in the district and beyond. He said the Association, which was formed in November 2006 had already participated in two fish trainings in Lagos, Nigeria and Accra which had enabled them to be abreast with modern techniques of fish farming.

Mrs Juliet Biney, Executive Secretary of Apex Farmers Organization (APFOG) said her organization aimed at unifying all farmer-based organization in Ghana to lobby and provide services and information to enhance security, financial and economic advantages to its members.