The Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN) has lauded the proposed move by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono, to ban fish importation into the country.

National President of the association, Anthony Asgaye disclosed to newsmen in Abuja, that the intervention was a good step towards ensuring food security in the country.

Asgaye said, “The move by the Federal Government as disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Nanono, to ban fish importation is a highly welcomed development.

“We the fish farmers in Nigeria under the auspices of Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, FCFN, have the potential and everything to produce fish to meet the national fish demand. We support the move by the Minister 100%, and we will do our best to do our best for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in fish production.

“We appeal to the government to provide an enabling environment for his members to deeply go into fishing activities and processing but we need enabling the environment.

“Our major problems include the cost of fish feed. We want a holistic approach to how we can access fish feed to return our farmers to go back to their profession.”

Regarding the deep-sea fishermen who are unable to afford the fishing equipment because of the price, Asgaye said, “The government is subsidizing other areas of agriculture it should also consider and include the fisheries subsector for timely interventions such as the Anchor Borrowers Scheme for rice farmers in the country, which is been done by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN should be extended to the fisheries industry as well.”

He further stressed on the effects of illegal fishing activities and the use of harmful chemicals on the water, urging people to halt the practice.

“Soon the floodwaters will recede you will see a high rate of obnoxious fishing activities by people who use harmful chemicals polluting the water and destroying under-size fishes with meshes, gut if we have the enabling environment these activities will be curbed and reduced to the lowest minimum.”

Source: AgroNigeria