Best Fish Farmer urges youth to adopt aquaculture

Assin Adiembra (C/R), May 2, GNA - Nana Owusu Tenase, Saamanhene of Assin Atandasu Traditional area, has called on the youth to consider current shortage of fish supply in the country as a challenge to invest in fish farming. Nana Owusu Tenase, known in private life as Mr Eric Ambrose Owusu, a retired teacher and 2007 National Best Fish Farmer, noted that marine fishing alone could not meet the nation's fish requirement due to fast depletion of its resources.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at his farm at Assin Adiembra near Assin Foso on Thursday, Nana Owusu Tenase, who is also the Chairman of the Central Regional Fish Farmers Association, commended the government for taking measures to bolster fish farming in the country. He mentioned some of the measures as the supply of fingerlings and fish feed to farmers on credit basis and urged retired workers and the youth to take advantage of the scheme. "It is a reliable source of income," he reassured.

Nana Owusu Tenase has cultivated 3.5 acres of fish pond and is currently doing an expansion. Currently, he supplies fingerlings to 35 farmers at a reduced cost and on credit basis. Among his breeding stock is drought-resistant red tilapia specie imported from Singapore. He said this formed part of his committed to encourage a lot more people to go into fish farming.

Nana Tenase appealed to the Ministry of fisheries to supply his farm with 50,000 fingerlings of cat fish for breeding and further distribution to others. He also appealed to the Ministry to provide the farm with a fibre glass canoe and nets for harvesting fish from.