Experts advocate 2.5% interest rate for loan on fishery

The experts, who converged in Lagos for a stakeholders meeting organised by the Fisheries Society Of Nigeria (FISON), noted that women should be given access to soft loans in view of their contributions in fisheries value chain.
According to the fisheries stakeholders, ýthere should be a zero import duty on all fisheries and aquacultural inputs in order to make the sector viable and provide an alternative source of revenue for federal government against.
Speaking at the forum, the National President of Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Chief Tayo Akingbolagun, said women play relevant roles in fisheries production and marketing.
According to him, there was need for aggressive enlightenment programme to educate consumers on the health benefits of consuming wholesome fish and fish products.
He said women should be supported with easy access to soft loans and be encouraged to imbibe modern technology.
Akingbolagun said “stakeholders have tasked themselves to be self-sufficient in fish production in the country and encourage government to implement a phased ban on fish importation. We also called on government to establish a fisheries commission and immediately start the process to charter the fisheries profession.”
Stakeholders in the fisheries sector have also called on the Federal Government to review the 1992 Fisheries Act, which they considered obsolete, in view of development in the sector.
Concerns by players in the sector informed a stakeholders meeting organised by the Fisheries Society Of Nigeria (FISON) at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the aim of reappraising the fisheries sub-sector and proffering solutions to identified challenges.
The meeting which drew participants from the academia, embassies, fish farmers, feed producers, fish processors, civil servants, fish marketers, students and non-governmental organisations extensively discussed issues affecting the sub-sector.
Some of the areas identified for urgent review in the Fisheries Acts include the relationship between ministry, department of fisheries and the Fisheries Commission which the stakeholders said were not clearly stated in the Act.

encouraged to imbibe modern technology.
Akingbolagun said “stakeholders have tasked themselves to be self-sufficient in fish production in the country and encourage government to implement a phased ban on fish importation. We also called on government to establish a fisheries commission and immediately start the process to charter the fisheries profession.”
Stakeholders in the fisheries sector have also called on the Federal Government to review the 1992 Fisheries Act, which they considered obsolete, in view of development in the sector.
Concerns by players in the sector informed a stakeholders meeting organised by the Fisheries Society Of Nigeria (FISON) at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the aim of reappraising the fisheries sub-sector and proffering solutions to identified challenges.
The meeting which drew participants from the academia, embassies, fish farmers, feed producers, fish processors, civil servants, fish marketers, students and non-governmental organisations extensively discussed issues affecting the sub-sector.
Some of the areas identified for urgent review in the Fisheries Acts include the relationship between ministry, department of fisheries and the Fisheries Commission which the stakeholders said were not clearly stated in the Act.