Factors, Challenges Limiting Fish Production in Kogi – Farmers

Kogi State Secretary of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ademu Halidu, has said the fish production level in the state was very low.

Halidu, who is also the Leader of AFAN in Benue and Kogi states, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that there was a high demand for fish products in the state.

He said there were factors and challenges limiting the level of production of the fish farms in the state.

According to him, the chemicals needed to treat the ponds are expensive and not readily available, adding that the fish feeds are also very costly.

He noted that the fish farmers were not adequately trained on the methods of application, preservation and fish feeding, in order to get high yields.

“Fish farmers have not been able to receive adequate training on how to manage and run fish farming.

“Furthermore, the fish feeds and the chemicals used for treating ponds are very expensive and are not readily available.

“A bag of fish feeds is now sold at an average range of between N5,000 to N8,000, depending on its measurement.

“Other challenges are inadequate support from government, in terms of funding, over flooding of fish ponds, and the inability to have easy access to loan facilities.

“The cost of production is very expensive; there is the high cost of construction of ponds, high cost of evacuation and several other challenges,” said Halidu.

He noted that funds that were said to be made available by government are not targeted toward practical farming, stressing that majority of the farmers have not been able to access any loan facility for the past two years in the state.

The AFAN leader urged governments at all levels to make agricultural programmes and loan facilities easily accessible to genuine farmers.

He charged governments and stakeholders to channel funds to farmers through NGOs, cooperatives and farmers’ associations, as a means of reaching farmers at the grassroots.

NAN