Global Agricultural Foundation's tilapia project to be multi-dimensional

Kpeve (V/R), Feb. 11, GNA - The Global Agricultural Foundation, Ghana, is developing a multi-dimensional and sustainable tilapia farming project that would be financially rewarding and community friendly.

The Foundation is also working at striking partnerships with reputable international organizations, such as Cargill International and others, whose peculiar expertise would be vital to the success of the project.

Mr Henry Gidi, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, gave the assurance when he explained the scope and progress of the Foundation's tilapia project to newsmen at its project site at Kpeve Tornu near Ho.

He said the Foundation's flag-ship project was to establish hatcheries at Kpeve Tornu by April this year with an initial capacity to produce 110,000 fingerlings a month increasing to one million fingerlings a month in a year's time.

Mr Gidi said the hatcheries were to ensure a regular supply of fingerlings to stock the Foundation's cages regularly and also supply to other farmers, many of whom were facing shortages of fingerlings.

Mr Gidi said the Foundation would establish sales points throughout the country for its tilapia and offer training to local fishermen in tilapia farming.

He said the Foundation would also train the youth in tilapia farming, in collaboration with the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

Mr Gidi said the tilapia market in Ghana is immense and guarantees fast and high financial returns over a short period.

Reverend Emmanuel Worlanyo Afenu, Executive Secretary of the Foundation assured its clients that the funds they have committed to the project were safe.

He explained that participation in the Foundation's project was not based on shares. ”We don't sell shares”, Reverend Afenu emphasized.

Rather the project offers opportunity to people who could bear the full cost of acquiring their cages and groups of between five and ten people on whose behalf the Foundation would seek funding to build cages for them after paying a registration fee.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency some clients suggested to the Foundation to open channels of communication such as meetings to enable them to keep up with the progress of the project.

Some also called for formal agreements between the Foundation and the clients as a form of security.

GNA