By OGEMDI OZOEMENAM, Awka
Anambra State is set to produce a minimum of fifty one million kilograms, that is, 51,000 metric tonnes of Table Fish per annum.
This is in line with the vision of Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA) for Anambra to become the largest fish producing state in West Africa, specialising in seedfish production, fishfeed production and processed fish products.
Briefing newsmen in Mgbakwu, Awka North council area of the state, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer FABDA, Mr Emeka Iloghalu said the state has to increase Table Fish production both in investment and human capital development.
“Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA) is the regulator of activities in the fisheries and Aquaculture sector in Anambra State. We provide the guidelines and all the operations in the Fisheries and Aquaculture segment in the state. This is one of them and we have 16 segments delineated for the Fisheries and Aquaculture value-chain for Anambra state.
“In Anambra state, our operation is peculiar and have disbanded the culture of calling anybody involved in rearing fish, fish farmer. Fish farmer can be general term but we are operating with precision now and developing businesses. Table Fish is the rallying point for all the fishes being consumed in the society today.
“The vision of FABDA is to be the largest fish production in West Africa, not just Nigeria. Our mission also us to develop high-brow value chain in the fisheries and aquaculture value chain in West Africa.
Mr Iloghalu maintained that the three targets to achieve this is to achieve self-sufficiency in table fish production for Anambra state, produce surplux to supply to industries and also be able to export geared towards pursuing Anambra dream of being the largest fish producer in ECOWAS sub region.
He noted that this informed the training of 150 graduates on Table Fish Production under the sponsorship of the Economic Community of West African State’s (ECOWAS) to enable Anambra have more Table Fish farmers in the state thereby adding to fish millionaires already in existence and contribute to GDP of the state as well as enhance personal development of the trainees.
“The Table Fish Production Awka Cooperative Society Ltd, is a private cooperative under whose facility these 150 youths are doing apprenticeship. We expect that as they graduate, we shall have more table fish production cooperatives who will contribute in developing others.
“On this, we are gradually building an economic community of human army that will contribute towards achieving the table fish production objective in the state.”
Speaking to our Correspondent OGEMDI OZOEMENAM, the Trainees of ECOWAS-sponsored Table Fish training, Ifeanyi Linus Okoli from Ihiala; Ezeanya Chukwuebuka Victor from Aguata; Okeke Chinonso Christopher from Nnewi South LGA and Ukamaka Faith Ifejika from Anaocha promised to use the life-changing training so acquired to better their lots, become self-reliant and contribute their quota to fish supply needs of the state.
“We are divided into six groups, 25 in each class under the leadership of a president. What we have learnt here can change our life for life.
“In this training, we have learnt how to collate data, analyse data and use it to make informed decisions in fish production business.
“Structurally, we learnt how to use technology to improve fish production business.
“There are standardised ways of producing fish that is not akin to laymen except trained fish farmers; hereinafter referred to as Table Fish Farmers”
“We have learnt about fish farming business: Taenprowiz. It is a solution for fish production business invented by Emeka Iloghalu in the year 2011 and patented in the year 2017. It is a computer operating system upon which suites of fish production Applications run.
“Here, you do grading once a week; think ahead, plan and be innovative to meet your target market. Frozen catfish is another area we will cue in.”
