Ghana good ground for aquaculture

Asmah told this to around 200 participants who
attended the Aquaculture Investors Forum in Accra that deliberated on the
government’s aim of promoting aquaculture as a business venture. It attracted
participants from the Association of Ghana Industries, Banking and Financial
Institutions, fish farmers, animal feed producers, importers and exporters and
policy makers at all levels.

Lack of commitment
Asmah said the
promotion of aquaculture in the past failed because people lacked commitment,
treated it as a hobby instead of a business and lacked technical expertise. This
was mainly caused by unclear institutional policies and allocations of
responsibilities, weak aquaculture institutions, poor networking among
aquaculture institutions and poorly defined skilled staff. “Also, lack of
complete understanding of scientific aquaculture, the abundant marine and inland
fishing at the time did not give the needed impetus to pursue aquaculture as a
viable enterprise, hence the poor performance of the industry at the time,”
Asamh said.

Move forward
The Fisheries Minister said
government was giving all interested parties the opportunity to retrace their
steps and move forward in making aquaculture the business for the next decade.
“The ministry’s target for aquaculture production in the next five years is to
produce up to 50% of local consumption which stands at about 400,000 metric
tonnes.
“To achieve this target, there is the need to step up efforts, to
inject major factors such as financial and technical support in the aquaculture
enterprise,” Asmah said.
She therefore suggested to set up an Aquaculture
Support Funds by the banks to support aquaculture development said globally
aquaculture was one of the world’s fastest growing food production
sectors.

Help from FAO
According to Mr Joh Moehl, Regional
Aquaculture Officer, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) aquaculture is a
high potential sector in Ghana. Moehl noted that the aquaculture only has a
change through direct investment by the private sector, be it in micro, small,
medium or large enterprises. He however, cautioned the new investors against
seeing the industry as a quick road to riches.
Moehl pledged that FAO would
remain a staunch partner with the Ministry of Fisheries in promoting the new
wave of profitable aqua-businesses and would be ready to offer all possible
assistance within its means.

Related links:
FAO
Ghana Ministry of Fisheries

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