Stakeholders unveil strategy to boost catfish production

The aim is to address the challenges facing the catfish value chain which will in turn boost its productivity in Africa

Speaking at the launch, the Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Fred Kafeero, explained that the launch of the Africa catfish value chain strategy, through FAO flagship programme, the FISH4ACP, is a global fish value chain development programme set up by the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

Kafeero said the programme is implemented by FAO and funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

According to him, the strategy will reduce harm to human health and lessen the burden on the environment through the introduction of cleaner smoking technologies.

He said it was designed to reinforce Nigeria’s catfish value chain by offering a roadmap to make the sub-sector more resilient and efficient in providing affordable food to Nigeria, creating jobs and providing business opportunities.

Additionally, he noted that Nigeria has an estimated 285, 000 producers of which small-scale farmers represent over 60 per cent.

“For us at FAO, Nigeria is a very important and strategic member state in the development and upgrading of this value chain. Besides being Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is also the world’s largest producer of African catfish, with an estimated annual production of 1m tons (in 2021), worth around $2.6billion,” he said.

The International Partnership Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Urszula Solkiewics, said the EU and the German government have long recognised the importance of investing in the fisheries sector, both as a means of livelihood for communities and as a contributor to the overall economic growth of the continent.

Solkiewics, who was represented by Frank Okafor, said the African catfish strategy, developed under the Fish4ACP Program, reflects the joint commitment of supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in the fisheries sector.

“Through the Fish4ACP Program, we aim to strengthen the capacities of African countries to sustainably manage their fisheries resources, enhance the competitiveness of the sector, and foster regional cooperation,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, represented by Director of Special Duties, Fausat Lawal, said the Fish4ACP Initiative of the OACPS aims to ensure the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture value chains In Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

The National President, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Dr. Ebinimi Ansa, said the launch of the strategy marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to harness the potential of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, by focusing on the value chain approach.