Mrs Folake Areola, the Director of Fishery, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at the launch of the programme at Lato and Hatchery Farm in Bwari, FCT.
Areola said the programme benefited 500 juveniles (fingerlings) and five bags of feed were given at subsidised rate to the registered fish farmers in the FCT.
Represented by the GES Coordinator, Mr Babatude John, the director said the aquaculture programme was timely and would help boost fish production in the country.
The director urged farmers to make proper use of the feeds given to them by the government, saying the ministry was expecting a feedback from them.
Addressing the farmers, Dr Charles Momo, the state Director, said the programme was aimed at improving fish production, food security, creation of employment and boosting the income of the farmers.
He described the aquaculture programme as a strategy to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the country.
He said that each registered farmer was expected to pay N12,500 for the feed instead of N25,000 while the government would pay the balance.
He urged the beneficiaries to redeem the input and use it properly, advising that they should see their investment as a business rather than a vocation.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ovurevu Ademoh, the Deputy Director, Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, commended the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for the special attention accorded to fish farmers.
He urged the government to establish more fish farms to reduce importation and establish fish market to enable farmers to market their products.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Victor Aneke, also commended the government for its effort and gave an assurance that they would promote fish farming. (NAN)
