By Muhammad Abdulwahab

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The Ondo State government has expressed its readiness to support fish farmers as they commence the harvest and sale of 12,000 fish raised with feed produced from the maize palliative received from the government.

Addressing the farmers at the harvest site, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Mr Wemimo Akinsola reiterated government’s commitment to assisting farmers in agricultural development aimed at ensuring food security and sufficiency.

Wemimo, who flagged off the fish harvesting exercise at the fish cluster site in Orita Obele, commended the farmers’ efforts, affirming that they have demonstrated the capacity to drive government’s initiative to meet its target.

“The government appreciates anyone who can put food on the table. Agriculture should be a top priority for every state and nation,” he remarked.

While assuring the farmers that he would deliver their message to the Governor, Wemimo also guaranteed that the government would continue to support them if their commodity proves profitable for both the farmers and the state.

In an interview, the focal person for the cluster project, Mr Oluwafemi Aluko thanked government for providing the tools that contributed to their production success.

Aluko called on the government to support them with additional equipment, including drag nets and fish feed seeds, to sustain the farmers’ efforts and propel the state’s fish farming sector to new heights.

Chairman of Association of Fish Farmers and Aquaculturists of Nigeria (AFFAN) in Ondo State,  Ilesanmi Adefila disclosed that the farmers converted the palliative maize received from the government into top-quality fish feed.

“This is the result we are harvesting from six locations across the state, and the southern parts will soon follow.”

The six locations are Ilaramokin, Ondo, Oda, two centres in Akure North, and two in Akure South,” he declared.

He informed that the Northern and Southern Senatorial Districts projects would commence before the end of September.

According to him, the Fish Farmers Association also used part of the maize grain to exchange for juvenile fish stocked at 2,000 per location, bringing the total to 12,000 across the sites.

A fish farmer, Olori Mercy Williams described fish farming as lucrative and a path to self-reliance as she encouraged women to engage in small-scale farming.

Others who spoke at the event included the Chairman of the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association (OSACA), Chief Abiodun Adejo, and the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and Farmers Congress, Mr Abayomi Monilari, among others.