The cost of fish feed and the construction of fish ponds is making fish farming unattractive in the Upper East Region despite government’s readiness to support farmers with inputs.
The region has about 50 fish farmers and over 100 fishermen who are currently in the business but production has reduced due to the high cost of fish feed.
Most of the fishing trade is done in dams, rivers and natural made dugouts due to the cost of constructing and purchasing fixed fish ponds such as the tarpaulin fish ponds. Majority of these farmers rely on traditional method of fishing which they have inherited from their ancestors.
The main barrier to more of fish farmers and interested persons in maximizing profit in the fisheries sector is the cost of feed and the construction of concrete fish ponds as well as acquiring the tarpaulin fish ponds.
A bag of 25kg of fish feed cost between GH₵100 and GH₵180 compared to a very low price before the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic. Fish farmers and fishermen in the Upper East Region are battling to survive in the business due to the high cost of the feed.
Josep Ayamga, president of the Upper East Regional Fish Farmers Association who spoke on the sidelines of the visit of the Executive Director of Fisheries Commission to the Upper East Region, urged government to subsidize the fish feed to farmers because it affects their business.
“Our challenge now is the fish feed which is really our nightmare and the cost of the feed keeps on increasing. Apart from the South, we fishfarmers here cannot get access to the feed and is the reason the prices keeps on increasing,” he said.
To further encourage and train fish farmers and other interested persons into fish farming, the fisheries commission has set up a demonstration concrete fish pond at its regional office in Bolgatanga where it serves as a starting point for fish farmers.
The Upper East Regional Director of Fisheries Commission, Francis Adjei highlighted the need for the youth to go into fish production.
“Our office is open and ready to give assistance to fish farmers especially the youth who wants to go into fish farming. We encourage farmers to adopt the backyard type of fish farming with the use of concrete and tarpaulin ponds. This concrete fish pond at the office serves as a demonstration pond where we have stock in cat fish and tilapia to teach beginners and fish farmers,” he advised.
As part of his regional inspection of fish facilities, the executive secretary of Fisheries Commission, Fred Kwesi Antwi-Boadu assured fish farmers in the region of government’s support in addressing their concerns especially on the fish feed.
“One of the purpose of my visit to the regions is to familiarise with all the key actors in the fishery industry as well as listen to concerns of fish farmers and how to make the industry attractive. We are working around the clock to decentralize the production of fish feed so as to lower the price of the feed for farmers to easily get access to the feed,”.
To address the fish feed canker, a private investor is currently producing fish feed in a pilot base for now to help farmers in the region to get moderate prices of the fish feed.
By Mohammed Rabiu Tanko|UE/R|Onuaonline.com
