Business
Anambra Trains Fish Farmers
The Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, says it has
trained fish farmers in the state on how to produce fish feeds locally, to
reduce the cost of importing feeds.
Mr Leo Amoka, the Programme Manager, Anambra Agricultural
Development Programme (ADP), disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra,
on Tuesday.
Reports say that with
the steady increase in the number of fish farmers in the last 10 years, the
country has had to import fish feeds, thereby losing millions of dollars each
year.
Amoka said experts from donor agencies had delivered
lectures and demonstrated how to prepare the fish feeds using locally sourced
materials.
“Actually, we brought farmers together to learn how to
absorb new technology and manufacture feeds by themselves instead of buying it
in the market, which is very expensive.
“And in the process, the Federal Government would now allow
importers to import and now deplete our foreign exchange. So, we now want to
use our locally sourced materials to do it.
“Soya beans, groundnuts, we have all the things here. So we
taught them how to do it over the last weekend.
“It is courtesy of the Peter Obi-led administration, who
paid the counterpart fund that we used in doing this.’’
The programme manager said the ministry also provided
farmers in the state with genetically modified exotic fruit seeds, which could
grow and adapt to the soil and climate of the state.
“We procured some exotic seeds. So these exotic seeds are
the type of seeds that are planted in the north; because of this insecurity
situation, our people don’t normally go to the north again to buy this
cucumber, you know, water melon.
“So we procure some seeds that can grow here, and we have
tried it in the farm and it worked.
“It had been distributed to our farmers to plant around
here. These exotic seeds like cucumbers, water melon, onions, cabbage. In fact,
if you come to my compound, I have a lot of them.’’
Amoka also disclosed that the ministry had leased out the
five tractors the state government procured early in the year to some
commercial farmers and co-operative societies in the state.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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