A fish farming expert, Mr Abednego Maran, has advised farmers to adopt the use of organic materials to raise fish that are healthier for consumption and also make more profits.
Maran, who is from Agro Perfect Solutions, gave the advice at a one-day seminar on the use of organic products in catfish/aquaculture production on Friday in Jos.
The expert discouraged farmers from the use of synthetic or inorganic products as they were harmful to human health.
He said that organic products were fantastic products for fish farmers for the control of pathogens.
“The essence of this gathering is to expose participants to modern ways of fish farming.
“Our focus is on organic farming; it is leading all over the world because it improves the health of fish and is safer and healthier for human consumption.
“This is imperative because there are so many practices that farmers wrongly adopt at the detriment of their businesses as well as the wellbeing of consumers.
“The fish that are raised using inorganic materials are sometimes poison instead of food and we have proven it in different places across the world.
“Organic fish farming is devoid of synthetic products; it is the usage of affordable natural resources within the environment to raise fish.”
According to him, most fish farmers use antibiotics to raise fish that are consumed by humans.
He said that such was responsible for numerous cases of antibiotic resistance in humans.
“We are partnering with the state because Plateau has what it takes to be the headquarters of fish in the world.
“God has blessed the state with weather and everything needed to raise fish organically,” he said.
On his part, Plateau Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Samson Bugama, said that the state government, through its relevant agencies, would study and see whether it would adopt organic fish farming.
Bugama, who was represented by Director of Livestock, Mr Patrick Mandung, said that people had been consuming imported fish that were hazardous to health.
The commissioner said the state wants to produce healthy fish locally, taking advantage of the state’s conducive environment for fish farming.
The Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Plateau Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Wilfred Dakye said that the training was part of efforts to boost fisheries and aquaculture in the state.
Dakye said that the training was for the participants to brainstorm and guide those who were already in business on what to do and intending farmers what they also needed to start.
“It is also aimed at identifying the challenges of the farmers and how we can tackle them.
“Fish farming is a lucrative business that could transform the economic status of farmers.
“We know that catfish is a hardy fish; it can stay for days without food, whatever you give it, be it chaffs from corn or anything.
“We are encouraging farmers to use local materials in the agric sector for raising fish,” he said.
The participants were drawn across the 17 local governments of the state.
