Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) and Global Alliance Africa have called for continuous engagement and partnership with relevant stakeholders in the aquaculture industry to boost aquaculture in Ekiti.
The global alliance in a statement at the end of the first Global Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange and Showcase in Ekiti , said that such synergies would help in harnessing the immense socio-economic potential of the sector in Ekiti .
The alliance said while the Ekiti is regarded as one of Nigeria’s agricultural hubs, well-known for its vast plantations of cocoa, cassava, maize, and palm oil, there is still a huge untapped potential in its aquaculture sector.
It further said that Nigerians consumed about 2.97 million metric tonnes of fish per year, and produced only about 1.07 million metric tonnes annually.
The alliance said there was a huge deficit of about 1.9 million metric tonnes, which sees some 1.2 billion dollars flow out of the economy and into foreign markets annually.
“At the state level, Innovate KTN UK disclosed that there is still a huge deficit of supply of fish, as local fish production sustains less than one percent (or 200 metric tonnes) of the region’s total demand of 26,825 metric tonnes.
“To unlock the immense socio-economic benefits of the aquaculture sector in Ekiti, the innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa, in collaboration with its Place-Based Innovation Advisory and Design Group for Ekiti State, hosted the first Global Aquaculture Knowledge Exchange and Showcase event on Jan. 31.
“The event brought together representatives from the government, academia, fish feed producers, fish farmers and associations, and other key development partners such as World Fish, World Aquaculture Society, IDH, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
“The event created a platform to explore gaps, existing solutions, and potential areas for innovation to heighten productivity and sustainability in the Ekiti State aquaculture sector.’’
Mr Joshua Adedeji , the Global Alliance Africa’s Knowledge Transfer Manager for Nigeria, said the project is a six-year project funded by UK Aid through Innovate UK (GCRF) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Adedeji said that it was only through engaging with players across the aquaculture supply and value chains, that Ekiti will be able to unlock the socio-economic potential of the aquaculture sector.
Also, the Africa Lead for Global Alliance Africa, Sophie West, reinforced the project’s commitment to making Ekiti State a beacon of innovation by creating new opportunities to transfer knowledge, technology and expertise between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
In his keynote address, Prof. Ayodele Ajayi, a member of the Advisory and Design Board, said that Innovate UK KTN has enabled stakeholders to connect with and learn from a variety of stakeholders in the aquaculture sector.
Ajayi said that this was both in Nigeria and the UK, and this has been fundamental to growing the understanding of the region and curating the activities and support.