Operators of fish ponds in Katsina have abandoned the business due to the lack of market for their products, the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Alhaji Usman Rimaye, the Chairman of the state Fish Farmers Association told NAN in Katsina on Thursday that only 54 of the 142 fish ponds established across the 34 local governments of the state were functional.
Rimaye identified the lack of market as the major factor militating against viable fish farming business in the state.
“It is because of this challenge that the fish farmers association is considering leasing out the fishing facilities,” he said.
Rimaye also said that the number of fish farmers had reduced, compelling the fish feed factory run by the association to suspend operations.
He called on stakeholders to save the situation by investing more in the sector for enhanced fish production.
NAN recalls that the fish farming programme was introduced in the state in 2005 by the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua when he was the state governor. (NAN)
‘Exchange rate, tariff responsible for high cost of stock’
The Managing Director of Fish Way Ltd., Chief Okebulu Jombo, has blamed the exchange rate and tariff for the high cost of stockfish in the country.
The Aba-based stock fish importer gave reasons for the increased cost of the commodity during an interactive forum with representatives of Salka Norfish, Iceland, and the customers in Aba, Abia State yesterday.
Jombo, who is also the Chairman of Morris Fish, Aba, said that the rising exchange rate of the dollar against
