NaijaAgroNet
The on-going review of fish
importation policy by the Federal Government would immensely benefit youths in
the South Western part of the Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.
According to NaijaAgroNet
reports, Lagos and Ogun State are the key beneficiaries from the production capacity
boost as
Premium Aquaculture Limited (PAL) revealed its plans to generate over 500 jobs
from two large fish farms already set up in Nigeria.
NaijaAgroNet
gathered that the two large fish farms located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State
capital and Epe suburb in Lagos State are expected to produce 4,500 metric tonnes
of catfish per annum with focus on breeding two species of fishes.
The development came as a result of the decision by
the PAL to invest in local fish farming in support the Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina in his efforts through the Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop fish production in Nigeria and
reduce the country's dependence on imported fish.
The Project Manager, Premium Aquaculture Limited,
Sarvesh Pandey said the company will center on breeding only catfish and
tilapia, explaining that the Epe fishpond is ready for production while Abeokuta
farm will commence operations in April, 2015.
"A lot of research has been carried out on what
area of fish to invest in and where to start the production. We will be
committing an investment worth about $1 million on the production of tilapia
fish to be produced in Abeokuta farm.
"Investment in catfish will be lesser than
tilapia because catfish is like in-house (Nigerian owned fish), we are doing
case culture on tilapia and case culture is more expensive. We are going to
import from china and 1kg, will cost us around $4000 at the capacity of 5
metric tonnes per circle. If you do two circles in a year, you can get 10
metric tonnes in one cage."
Chidozie Anibueze/GEE
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