Farm establishes can fish plant in Osun

The Chairman of FEG-Agro Farms, Otunba Gabriel Emiola Ogunsanya, while briefing fish farmers drawn from Osun and Ekiti states said the initiative of canned catfish was developed by the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) Lagos, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.Ogunsanya who is the National President of the Association of […]

The Chairman of FEG-Agro Farms, Otunba Gabriel Emiola Ogunsanya, while briefing fish farmers drawn from Osun and Ekiti states said the initiative of canned catfish was developed by the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) Lagos, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Ogunsanya who is the National President of the Association of Aquaculture Farmers and Agro-processors of Nigeria (AAFAN) and also the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Osun State charged fish farmers to redouble their efforts in catfish production and assured them of ready market when the factory fully takes off.
He lamented that Nigeria was spending over 700 million dollars on fish importation, noting that fish importation is not good for the economy of the nation. He said Nigeria is capable of producing enough fish that will feed the nation and even export, thereby boosting the nation’s economy.
The AFAN boss commended the Minister for Agriculture, Dr Adesina Akinwumi, for his various innovations aimed at ensuring food security in the country. He also commended Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola for encouraging fish production in the state by buying 5,000kg fish per week for the state school feeding programme.
Three researchers from NIOMR, including the Director of Biotechnology and Fish Technology, Dr Adekunle Oresegun, Director of Aquaculture, Dr Patricia Anyanwu and an Assistant Director from the institute, Dr. Marbel Yarhere sensitised the fish farmers on the benefit of the innovation.
Also, the Director of Fisheries Services from the state Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Olubukola Awoyemi, while speaking at the occasion commended NIOMR for the canned catfish initiation and reassured fish farmers that the state government would continue to promote and support fish production and processing.
The Ekiti State AFAN Chairman, Barr. A. O. Okeya, who led other farmers from Ekiti to Osun for the presentation of the new business idea to fish farmers, also commended NIOMR for the innovation.
All the fish farmers who participated in the innovation platform pledged their full support for the success of the plant.