456 Persons benefit from 'Aquaculture for Food and Jobs' initiative

In line with the government’s medium term vision to use the aquaculture sub-sector to increase domestic fish production and generate additional jobs and employment along the aquaculture value chain for the youth, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in 2018 launched and piloted the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) Initiative; enhanced aquaculture training and extension, and instituted measures to contain and prevent fish disease to reduce fish death.

This came to light when the sector Minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye took her turn to brief journalists at the “Meet the Press” series in Accra on Wednesday, September, Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

According to the Minister, so far, 465 beneficiaries have been trained in Aquaculture Best Practices, Pond Construction, Pond Management and Harvesting.

Some of the institutions which have benefited from this training include; James Camp Prisons in Greater Accra (3 ponds), Techiman Nobel Youth Association, Techiman at Bono East (10 ponds constructed, stocked and feed provided), Atwereboanda Pentecost Youth group at Adansi, Ashanti Region (10 ponds constructed), Osei Tutu Senior High School in the Ashanti Region (4 earthen ponds constructed, stocked & feed provided),Wenchi SHS (4 ponds constructed), Dormaa Senior High School in the Bono Region (10 ponds and 4 ponds constructed), Balofiri Youth Group (8 earthen ponds) and St Francis Xavier Seminary (4 concrete tanks), Ashanti Regional Fish Farmers ass (8 cages constructed, stocked and feed provided).

On fish disease control, Madam Afoley Quaye disclosed that her outfit has so far vaccinated aquaculture establishments along the Volta Lake enclave with the Aquavac-Irido Vaccine.

“About 3.1 million fingerlings have been immunized with a survival rate of 99.3 percent on 13 farms. The Ministry will continue with the vaccination exercise and provide extension services to aquaculture establishments and training to small and medium scale fish farmers as well as hatchery operators on: Biosecurity Measures at farm level and Hatchery Management, quality fingerling production and Best Aquaculture Practices including feed formulation, disease detection and early warning systems”, she stressed.