Kaduna Govt Reaffirms Support for Fish Farmers, Promises Infrastructural Boost
Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, has pledged government’s support to fish farmers in the state, assuring them of infrastructural investment to help expand their capacity and strengthen their contribution to food security and economic growth.
Dabo gave the assurance when he received the executive committee members of the Kaduna State Association of Fish Farmers during a courtesy visit to his office.
The Commissioner commended the role of fish farmers in boosting the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing vital sources of animal protein for consumers, stressing that fish farming remains an important pillar in the agricultural sector.
While acknowledging that the state has made more progress in crop production compared to fishery development, Dabo emphasized that the government is determined to close the gap.
He advised fish farmers to form cooperative clusters in order to access government grants and international donor support more effectively.
“On our part, we shall capture in next year’s budget the shortfalls that have been noted in the fishery sector,” Dabo assured.
He added: “Governor Uba Sani’s administration is deeply passionate about agriculture, which he sees as the bedrock of Kaduna’s economy. Starting from next year, you will begin to see the difference through our interventions. If you currently produce 1,000 capacity, we want you to scale up to at least 10,000 and even more.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Dr. Ejike Ude, appealed to the state government to carry fish farmers along in its agricultural interventions, lamenting that the association has not been fully involved in government support programmes.
He noted that the development of a central fish selling point, provision of boreholes, and other basic infrastructure would significantly enhance production capacity and market access.
“We have members with fish ponds of over 10,000 capacity. With the right support, this sector can create thousands of jobs and contribute immensely to food sufficiency in Kaduna State,” Dr. Ude said.
Vice Chairman of the Association, Sebastian Michael, also highlighted challenges facing members, pointing out that lack of a structured selling point has forced many farmers out of the business after their first harvest.
He stressed that urgent intervention from the government is critical to stabilizing the sector, retaining farmers, and attracting new entrants.
“We have tried our best to push into the market, but without a functional selling point, survival has been very difficult. Many people who ventured into fish farming have pulled out within a short time,” Michael lamented.
Both leaders of the association urged the Commissioner to ensure that the government steps in with meaningful interventions to keep fish farmers in business and unlock the full potential of aquaculture in Kaduna State.
