2012 Flood: Rivers Fish Farmers Seek Govt’s Aid

The chairman, Baron
Investments Fish Farms, Chief Clement Robinson Ishiaki has called on the Rivers State government to come to the aid of fish farmers who lost their stock to the 2012 flood in the state.
Ishiaki, who spoke to our correspondent at his country home Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State said farmers in the fishing industry in the state still need government’s attention.
While recalling how he lost his fish stock in the 2012 flood, he said he was able to restock again by securing soft loans from friends and lenders to enable him begin all over again.
He said since most of those involved in such business could not easily access loans, it was necessary the government came to the rescue of such group of farmers.
He said so far he was expecting a bumper harvest in 2014 even as he said that he ran at a loss after last year’s harvest.
“I am satisfied with what I am doing now at the farm.
“If you see my fish now in 2014 at least if I harvest them you will know that the job I am doing is a good job”, he said.
Explaining further, he said most fish farmers faced the challenge of funds to enable them break even.
He said the cost of feeding their stock was fairly high even as he said fishes to be consumed need the right feeds to make them wholesome for human consumption.
He said it was because of the cost of buying the appropriate feeds for their fish that some farmers feed their fish with food left overs and even rotten fish.

President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd right), Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State (2nd right), Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina (right), during an inspection visit to the Songhai Katsina Initiative, recently.