Engage in family fish farming to boost national production – FC

Mr. Hanson Kodzo Dzamefe Jnr., the Bono Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission (FC) stressed the need to promote backyard fish farming as a way to improve the country’s fish production stock.

“Taking the annual per capita consumption of fish, each Ghanaian consumes on average about 24.6 kilograms (kg), compared to the global average of 20 kg and the West African average of 14 kg, so even in the sub-region, Ghanaians are the biggest consumers of fish,” he noted.

“Are we able to produce enough fish for our people to eat?” he asked, saying there had always been a deficit of consumption compared to production.

Mr. Dzamefe Jnr. spoke to Ghana News Agency in an interview with Sunyani about the country’s annual fish production deficit and measures to alleviate it.

He said the country’s annual fish production in 2021 was 628,617.53 metric tons, while the 1,268,800 metric tons were needed to meet national demand.

Mr. Dzamefe Jnr. said the country had imported additional tons of fish worth more than $67 million to increase the 2021 deficit, saying something had to be done to meet the demand for fish consumption.

“If we get a lot of people to start this initiative at home, an increase in national fish production would be guaranteed,” he said.

Mr. Dzamefe Jnr. added, in addition to supplementing their meals with quality fish protein, it would be an opportunity to create employment for them and also serve as a hobby.’.

He explained that vegetables and other crops were grown in backyards, so fish farming was no exception as fish ponds could be made using concrete tanks and collapsible tanks, made from tarpaulins. to raise fish for home consumption.

“What thrives the most is the catfish, because they are hardy and can be raised anywhere in clean water, except sewer water and other waters containing chemicals,” a- he added.

Mr. Dzamefe Jnr. said the region has trained people interested in getting involved, saying some people have started doing so.

He assured the Commission’s commitment to provide extension services to all who wish to practice it, saying that field officers would constantly monitor to ensure that farmers adhere to best practices such as observing the measures of biosecurity.