Fish farmers seek support to close production gap

Nigeria's domestic fish production currently meets less than a quarter of the country's estimated requirement of 300,000 metric tonnes, according to Ladan Aliyu, President of the National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN). Aliyu called for stronger government support and cooperation among fish farmers to bridge the significant supply gap.

Fish farmers need to unite into sustainable cooperative societies, enhance production capacity, and collaborate with the government to access essential inputs, training, and supportive policies. The association's president highlighted that Nigeria's current production falls far short of the country's needs, with imports providing only a partial solution.

The situation emphasizes the necessity of boosting local fish farming to meet protein demands, rather than relying heavily on imports. Aliyu stressed the importance of fish farming as an affordable protein source compared to other animal-based foods, although foreign exchange pressures have led to higher prices for imported fish.

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment urged NFAN's new leadership to promote unity, transparency, and accountability while working to improve the fortunes of fish producers, processors, marketers, and distributors.