Fish Farming Business Thrives In Anambra: Stakeholders

^{WRITTEN BY NGOZI OBILERI}

Actualisation of fish fields across all the council areas in the state is no longer far fetched given the fact that fish farm estates are now springing up in the state.

One of such facilities was spotted in Osomalla in Ogbaru local government area where a workshop was held for fish processors and producers in the state.

The workshop was put together by the state government in collaboration with United States Agency For International Development USAID to expose fish processors and producers on modern methods involved in fish processing in line with global standards.

As part of activities that featured during the workshop,  the participants toured the fish farm estate, housing fifty ponds, aside hatchery.

Also seen at the estate were tourist facilities like swimming pool, gym house, several sit outs foot bridge connecting the ponds.

Some of the participants who were marvelled at the site including the Deputy Country Director, USAID farmer to farmer programme, Mr John Iruaga, adjudged it the biggest in the country.

The Winrock volunteer from the United States who implements the USAID farmer to farmer programme Dr Daniel Harman ,acknowledged that Anambra has a huge potential in fishery and aquaculture said they are in the state to help the fish processors improve on their method of Processing as it concerns drying of the fishes to make it acceptable in the international market.

Speaking after the tour of the estate,  the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Fisheries Mr Emeka Iloghalu noted that the workshop was another step by the state government to further drive the development of fishery in the state in terms of being sufficient in fish production by producing fifty one thousand metric tons of fish annually.

The owner of the fish estate Engineer Nwachukwu Egeonu maintained that the site will have all the facilities in Disney land and will showcase the tourism potentials of the state when completed,  commending Governor Obiano for donating two water and mud pumps to the site.

During the workshop, the participants were advised to avoid direct smoke contact with the fish while processing and to avoid the use of antibiotics while growing the fish.

The workshop featured question and answer session.