Fisheries Ministry to train fish farmers

Apromase (Ash), March 15, GNA - The Ministry of Fisheries in collaboration with the Kumah Farms Complex at Domeabra in the Ejisu-Juaben District has embarked on an aggressive programme to train and equip fish farmers with relevant fish farming skills. The programme, which started in November last year is being funded by the Ministry of Fisheries and supported by the Irish Government and is expected to train 250 fish farmers this year.

Already, about 150 of such farmers have benefited from skills and technical training under the programme.

Mr David Aidoo, in-charge of micro-projects at the Ministry of Fisheries, announced this at the close of one of such training schemes of the programme at Apromase near Kumasi on Wednesday. Twenty-two fish farmers attended the 10-day training programme from the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Brong-Ahafo and Western regions, have so far benefited under the programme. The trainee fish farmers were taught new and modern skills in pond construction and preparation, site selection, feeding habits as well as processing and marketing.

Mr Aidoo announced that in its bid to ensure that fish farming was successfully promoted in the country, the government had committed 30 billion cedis to the propagation of aquaculture.

"Two extra fish hatcheries are to be set up to augment the existing two in the system, all as a means of boosting fish production", he added.

Nana Kwaku Siaw, Managing Director of the Kumah Farms, commended Nana Kwame Adom Amankwah, regent of Apromase for demarcating 10 acres of land to be used by any youth who wish to go into fish farming and pond construction.

He also pledged to supply tilapia fingerlings free of charge to any youth committed to taking to fish farming at Domeabra, Apromase and their satellite communities.