Plateau trains 200 fish farmers on feed production

State Director of Fisheries, Mr Talgwan Wuyep who disclosed this to newsmen in Jos, said that the training which involved more than 200 registered fish farmers was sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN food agency. Wuyep said that the training would equip the participants with the basic skills in feed production and […]

State Director of Fisheries, Mr Talgwan Wuyep who disclosed this to newsmen in Jos, said that the training which involved more than 200 registered fish farmers was sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN food agency.
 Wuyep said that the training would equip the participants with the basic skills in feed production and farm management, adding, “The training has become necessary in view of the rising cost of feeds, and it will equip the farmers with the relevant skills that would help cut fish production cost. This could go a long way in boosting fish production not only in the state but the country at large.’’
Wuyep added that Plateau State was one of the states with huge aquaculture and fisheries potential in the country, and the training would assist Plateau fish farmers to explore the abundant potentials.
The director noted that the state-owned Panyam Fish Farm is capable of producing 3.900 tons of fish annually when rehabilitated, while the private sector could also produce 1, 000 tons given its natural habitat.
He said, “Plateau is blessed with good natural and man-made habitats for fish production with over 100 fish ponds with an estimated water surface area of 300 hectares. It has 20 dams and reservoirs with estimated water surface area of 673 hectares as well as 12 natural lakes with an estimated water surface area of 365 hectares. In addition, out of over 1,000 abandoned mining ponds on the Plateau, 24 were certified fit for fish production with an estimated water surface area of 203 hectares.”
He expressed regret over the huge importation of fish from other countries and the short supply of locally produced fish protein in the country in spite of the abundant resources.