As Rivers State gears up to diversify its economy and shift from its over reliance on petroleum, a study has revealed that the state can make up to N20 billion yearly from the sales of catfish.

Speaking to journalists shortly after conducting a one-week training for indigenes on catfish breeding and sales last week Special Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Vincent Elemanya said efforts had begun to make the state a catfish hub.

Elemanya said with the abundant water resources in the state, catfish breeding and farming can be done on a large scale and provide alterative revenue to oil.

His words, “catfish production can generate close to our monthly statutory allocation yearly and since we are looking beyond the oil era, it remains one of the biggest alternative”.

The Governor’s aide explained that the business did not take much money to establish, “a female catfish can give you a million finerlings.”

He disclosed that about 300 participants attended the weeklog programme, which covered breeding, sales and management of catfish farming.

With the success so far, he hinted that the training would be extended to the 23 local government areas, “and we plan to train about 4,000 people at the end of the day”, he added.

Part of the measures evolved so far he noted is to form local cooperative on catfish business after which the trainees would be provided soft loans and support.

Already he stated that the government had begun talks with the National Agricultural Development Bank and United Bank for Africa for the scheme.

The essence he said was to subsidise the feeds and support the people in setting up their own farms, noting that export potentials abound in the business.