Rivers
Catfish: ‘Rivers Can Make N20bn Yearly’
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.
Niger Delta
Tai Agric Sector Gets Emergency Attention …As Chairman Distributes Farm Inputs, Inaugurates Technical Team

The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Matthew Nenu Bari Dike has declared a state of emergency in the agriculture sector of Tai local government.
Speaking while distributing farm implements and other agricultural support packages to the farmers at the council’s headquarters in Saakpenwa, yesterday, Dike challenged farmers to show their farms before requesting for financial assistance.
The council boss stated that as a government, they were committed to putting smiles on the faces of the people and assured that his administration would ensure that every person in the local government is happy.
“As a government we want to assure you that, we will stop at nothing to ensure you all are empowered and living happily”.
According to him, “the gesture is aimed at enhancing food production and security through agriculture, and enjoined all lovers of agriculture in the local government area to identify with the quest to redefine development through agriculture in the local government.
He encouraged everyone to cultivate the passion and return to agriculture, to guarantee self-reliance, maximum food production and security in the area.
His administration, he said, would purchase more yam seedlings in order to get greater production to encourage exportation beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“A boost in yam production will also empower farmers in the Local Government Area”, the elated chairman said.
In a related development, the Chairman has inaugurated a five, member Agricultural Technical Committee for the Local Government Area.
The committee is made up of Pst. Anderson Wariboko, Barr. Paul Newman,, Smith Nyor-Ue, Gladys Jumbo and Dr Keke Rammyson
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture, Tai Local Government Area, Mr Anderson Wariboko revealed that the event was part of activities to mark the chairman’s 100 days in office.
Wariboko who led the chairman, and other leaders of the council on the distribution of the farm inputs to the farmers, was full of praises for the chairman, Hon. Dike whom he said has the interest of the people at heart.
Kiadum Edookor
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