By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Oct 11, GNA – Professor Mike Osei-Atweneboana, the Director, Center for Scientific and Industrial Research – Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), has called on the Fisheries Commission and other relevant stakeholders to come together to explore more funding opportunities in fish farming for the youth.
He said more investment in fish farming could lead to expanded operations and boost the fishing sector, create more jobs in production, processing, distribution, and retail, and develop sustainable livelihoods, thereby reducing poverty and enhancing food security.
“Funding can facilitate research and the adoption of innovative practices and technologies, improving efficiency, and productivity in fish farming,” he added.
The Director of CSIR-WRI was speaking at a two-day hands-on training workshop in homestead catfish farming on the theme, “Enhancing production and use of fish as part of healthy diets and agri-food chain development and businesses,” in Accra.
The CSIR – WRI is jointly coordinating the implementation of the HealthyFoodAfrica project with the CSIR-Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI) in Accra Food System Laboratory (FSL-Accra).
With its co-generation and co-management strategy with stakeholders, the project is piloting interventions for sustainable healthy fish production and utilisation in Asuogyaman District, Adentan and Ga South Municipality, and Tema Metropolis.
Prof. Osei-Atweneboana said homestead or backyard fish farming played a crucial role in enhancing food security in the country, and that as an institute, they were actively exploring ways to support the youth and communities in this vital area of aquaculture.
He said there were two critical aspects of aquaculture production, particularly in homestead systems, that is the quality of water used for cultivation and the selection of fish seed for ensuring successful and sustainable fish farming practice.
The Director said poor water quality could lead to high mortality rates in fish, adding that it was essential for those involved in aquaculture to assess their water quality, and that the CSIR – WRI was available to assist in that regard.
“Another critical aspect is the quality of the fish seed, commonly referred to as fingerlings, that you use to initiate your aquaculture venture. If the fingerlings are of poor quality, you may encounter significant challenges, including slow growth rates in the fish,” he added.
He said aquaculture was a promising business opportunity, and that in addition to fish cultivation, there were opportunities to expand your enterprise by incorporating value-added processes such as smoking and marketing dried fish.
The Director said many individuals interested in entering this field may lack the financial resources to initiate their ventures, urging the Fisheries Commission to collaborate with the Institute to explore funding opportunities to support aspiring aquaculturists.
Dr Seth Koranteng Agyakwah, the Project Coordinator, HealthyFoodAfrica, said the project was working in collaboration with various stakeholders in aquaculture, to identify the challenges faced by fish farmers in Ghana that were hindering their aquaculture production.
He said additionally, the CSIR – WRI, in collaboration with the CSIR – FRI, aimed to enhance production systems for farmers while implementing food technology strategies to increase the value of the fish.
Dr Agyakwah said there were various fish production systems, including the aquaponic system, which integrated fish cultivation with the growth of vegetable crops.
“There are significant reasons for the co-cultivation of fish and plants. The plants utilise the nutrients present in the wastewater from the fish tanks, thereby purifying the water. This clean water is then recycled back to the fish, creating a sustainable ecosystem,” he added.
The Project Coordinator said HealthyFoodAfrica project had come at a time when the natural water bodies were being polluted, where illegal mining was having its own menace in the natural waters.
He added that while water resources were available, they were increasingly compromised by pollution in both groundwater and surface water, nevertheless, achieving food security through aquaculture remained essential.
Dr Agyakwah said maintaining accurate records of inputs and operations were crucial for tracing production processes and assessing performance.
He said without proper documentation, it became challenging to track expenses, determine profitability, and evaluate the effectiveness of different feed batches.
“Comprehensive record-keeping is essential for successful farm management,” he added.
GNA