LAGOS, March 20 (Xinhua) — Nigeria is to scale up tilapia and catfish production through research in the country, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri said Tuesday.
The project in partnership with the WorldFish, an international organisation, would promote the diversification of indigenous fishes in the country, the minister said in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Lokpobiri spoke at a stakeholders meeting attended by top government officials.
He said the collaboration would also facilitate breeding of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) and catfish.
The minister said the annual fish demand in the country was currently 3.2 million tonnes while the annual production from both aquaculture, artisanal and industrial fishing sectors was 1.1 million tonnes.
Earlier, Davis Shearer, International Partnership Director at WorldFish, said the organisation’s mandate was to strengthen livelihoods and enhance food and nutrition security.
According to him, this is possible by improving and delivering solutions to fisheries and aquaculture in developing countries.
Shearer said the role of the organisation was to work with Nigeria in order to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially to fight poverty and hunger.