By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has reinforced its aquaculture sector by participating in the FISH4ACP (Fish for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific) Cluster Upgrading Programme, a national initiative executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Speaking at the training session, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afees Abolore Alabi, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Funke Sokoya, characterized the programme as a concrete effort toward sustaining Kwara’s prominent position within Nigeria’s aqua-landscape.
Alabi noted that the training aligns perfectly with Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision to enhance food security and diversify the state’s economy through advanced farmer education and sustainable agricultural practices.
He extended appreciation to the Governor for his continuous support to the agricultural sector, emphasizing that the enabling environment created under his leadership has positioned Kwara to successfully leverage national and international agricultural interventions.
The training session successfully gathered fish farmers from across the state for the initial phase of a year-long capacity-building programme. The curriculum focused on critical areas including Best Management Practices (BMP), record keeping, optimal feeding strategies, medication, pond management, and effective marketing techniques.
Recognized as one of Nigeria’s largest catfish markets, Kwara continues to lead in commercial fish production, with hundreds of farms supplying both live and processed catfish to neighboring states.
The Commissioner highlighted that the FISH4ACP training offers a strategic opportunity for farmers to improve their technical competence, significantly increase their yield, and strengthen the value addition processes necessary to enhance overall productivity.
He explained that the training benefits not only the individual farmers but also the state as a whole, projecting that improved aquaculture practices will ultimately lead to higher output, tangible job creation, and better nutrition for households.
The 12-month exercise is specifically designed to help participants build business-oriented fish farms capable of scaling operations and competing profitably in national markets. These initiatives are fully aligned with the government’s broader objective of establishing aquaculture as a viable and robust agribusiness sector in Kwara.
Through its dedicated participation in a program like FISH4ACP, the State Government underscored its unwavering commitment to sustainable aquaculture growth, the empowerment of farmers, and the broader transformation of the agricultural economy.
This capacity-building effort is strongly expected to strengthen aquaculture output across the state, generate new economic opportunities, and fully support the administration’s drive toward achieving comprehensive food security and genuine economic diversification.