By Fidelia Okosodo

Some catfish farmers and sellers in Nasarawa State have expressed satisfaction following the high patronage in their business.

The farmers stated this in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

NAN reports that research shows that catfish farming in Nigeria is experiencing high patronage, indicating a thriving market for the product.

The research also shows that this popularity is driven by several factors, including catfish’s status as a readily available and affordable protein source for many Nigerians, particularly those in the lower-income households.

NAN also reports that the national fish demand, estimated at 3.6 million metric tonnes annually, surpasses domestic production, further fuelling the catfish farming sector.

Mr Uduak Solomon, a popular farmer in Angwan Tiv Community in New Nyanya, said he started the business in 2016 as his major occupation after he retired as a security officer.

Solomon added that over the years, his business had flourished beyond his expectations in spite of the numerous risks that were involved in fish farming.

He said that he made huge profits in the last three months in his business due to the Sallah and Easter celebrations.

Solomon said that the reduction in cost of fish feed was also a major factor that has helped to boost his profit.

According to him, in 2024, a bag of Blue Crown fish feed was sold for N29, 500 by now it goes for N26, 200.

“The price for a kilo of catfish currently ranges from N2, 800 to N3, 500 but last year it was sold for N4, 800 per kilo.

“With the reduction in price, patronage had increased tremendously” he said.

Solomon advised farmers to sell their catfish according to the current market price as some farmers tend to keep their fish for long with the hope of selling at a higher price.

Mrs Margret Audu, a fish seller, said she had made tremendous sales in the catfish business this year.

She said with the high demand of catfish from various restaurants and eateries, she had witnessed an increased patronage.

Audu stated that in spite of the high demand for fresh catfish, there was also a significant demand for dried catfish, as many people preferred as it was easier to preserve.

She, however, stated that the major challenge she encountered was the high cost of transportation to different farms in search of catfish.

Audu appealed to the Federal Government and non-governmental organisations to support small-scale business owners with grants and equipment to boost their businesses.

Mr Bala Suleiman, another fish farmer, shared his remarkable 12-year journey in the fish business with NAN.

He recounted the challenges he faced in his first year, including limited funding, high mortality rates, expensive feed, low demand and theft.

Suleiman explained that he surmounted his challenges through loans and grant from cooperative societies, coupled with his determination in ensuring that his business succeeded.

He advised farmers to engage in regular sorting and changing of water as a means to minimise morality rate to ensure good harvest.

Ms Elizabeth Aonodongu, a fish seller, described catfish business as lucrative, adding that it had enabled her to support her family’s needs over the years.

She attributed the popularity of catfish to its high protein content, saying that many people preferred it to other fish, making it a much sought-after product in her community.

Aonodongu said that in the last three months, her farm sold over 6,000,000 catfish, both smoked and fresh, to various bars across different communities, with many being exported abroad.

She added that sales at the beginning of the year were underwhelming due to the high cost of hatching materials.

Aonodongu also expressed the frustration that some customers buy on credit, with promises to pay at month-ends, which negatively impact her business.

In spite of these challenges, Aonodongu advised young catfish farmers to remain consistent and view the prevailing seemingly formidable obstacles as budding opportunities for growth. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Bashir Rabe Mani

By Akeem Abas

Alhaji Idris Ajimobi, Special Adviser on Livestock Development to President Bola Tinubu, has reminded Nigerians that the nation’s livestock reforms are on course.

Ajimobi, speaking to newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday, however, called for unity, more stakeholder engagement and public sensitisation for a successful implementation.

He noted that 50 per cent of the Livestock Ministry’s job was to tackle, by significantly reducing the recurring farmers-herders’ crises across the country.

According to Ajimobi, the son of the late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, clashes between farmers and herders stem from the lack of clean water and food for livestock.

Ajimobi said the ministry was now involving all stakeholders, having identified past failures of exclusion and poor coordination.

He revealed that Nigeria has over hundred grazing reserves with only the recently launched reserve in Niger functioning.

Ajimobi said that while some of the reserves had become uninhabitable, hence requiring major intervention, the government was interested in reviving them all.

He said that discussions were ongoing with local and foreign partners to revive at least three grazing reserves in the next 18 months.

Ajimobi said that the ministry would also promote local dairy and beef production to reduce importation, while targeting a pack of milk and an egg per day for every child.

He said that Nigerians must be educated to explore the economic opportunities in livestock beyond meat and milk, lamenting the waste of the money-making opportunities in cow by-products.

Ajimobi, acknowledging the current economic pains, urged Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu-led administration as the gains of ongoing reforms manifest.

He said the ongoing reforms, once set upon a solid foundation, would lead to a fairer system that would benefit many rather than a few privileged ones.

The president’s aide, however, said that farmers must form cooperatives to increase impact, adding that unity among farmers would make them unstoppable.

Ajimobi expressed the desire to serve the people of Oyo State and Nigeria in the future, but remained focused on delivering impactful results in his current role under Tinubu.

“I still have a burning desire to serve the people of Oyo State and Nigeria at large, should the opportunity arise.

“However, for now, I remain fully committed to my current assignment and to delivering a thriving livestock sector better than what we have today,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Moses Solanke

By Chukwuemeka Opara

The Ebonyi Government says it has paid off its N300 million counterpart fund to the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) from 2023.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, disclosed this in Abakaliki during a pre-mission stakeholders’ meeting on VDCP project performance evaluation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was conducted by IFAD’s Independent Evaluation Office.

Iyioku said that the government released N100 million for the counterpart fund in 2023 and N200 million in 2024.

“The counterpart fund for 2025 will be released soon as the state government is happy with the performance of IFAD–VCDP in the state.

“IFAD–VCDP has greatly contributed in enhancing agriculture in the state and the state government is always ready to collaborate with it,” she said.

The commissioner expressed optimism that the evaluation team would rate Ebonyi first among the other states earmarked for the evaluation, which includes Nasarawa and Niger.

“We are not competing with anyone but we have done enough to deserve the top spot,” she said.

She appealed to IFAD–VCDP to extend its operations in the state to 13 local government areas, instead of the current eight.

“Stakeholders from the remaining five LGAs have been clamouring for inclusion in IFAD’s operations and we can’t keep assuring them,” she said.

The leader of the IFAD pre-mission team, Usman Damata, said the evaluators operated independently to ascertain if IFAD had achieved its objectives or not.

Damata said that evaluators’ reports were not disclosed to anyone, except the IFAD board itself.

“We at the National Office are happy that they chose Ebonyi for evaluation because we know the good things the state is doing.

“We are optimistic that they will have good assessment to make on Ebonyi.

“The report on Ebonyi will have effect on what is happening in the South-East zone, especially Anambra and Enugu, and also on Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

The state’s IFAD-VCDP Programme Manager, Mr Sunday Ituma, said the meeting was to share with stakeholders and farmers the responses provided for the questions they would be asked during the evaluation.

“This will enable them take a cue from the responses because whatever they answer is what the evaluators will take.

“All we seek is fair assessment and criticism and not what is not true about us,” he said.

NAN reports that goodwill messages were delivered at the event by the state’s Ministry of Finance, House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, as well as agro dealers, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mark Longyen

By Martins Abochol

His Royal Highness, Idris Chiroma, the Emir of Gassol, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba, has advised his people to adopt farming as a means of economic empowerment.

Chiroma gave the advice on Saturday in his Sallah massage to the people of Gassol.

The royal father noted that agriculture was the main sector that was still open to all as a source of economic empowerment and urged the people to put in their best efforts in tilling the vast arable land in the area.

According to him, the land is available, and there are also friendly laws guiding agricultural practices in the state.

He, therefore, advised the youths to shun all social vices and extremism and key into the agricultural transformation vision of Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba.

Chiroma also advised residents to ensure peaceful coexistence and imbibe the spirit of tolerance and unity during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The traditional ruler emphasised that Islam was a religion of peace, and so the Almighty God would punish all those perpetrating evil using His name. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore