The fish farmers in Oyo State in conjunction with Lukom Integrated Service Limited, the state government partner on fish farming, have launched “Oyo State Ejawa Our Fish Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society”.
Speaking at the unveiling of the society on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture Natural Resources and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said that the initiative came at right time.
According to him, it came when inputs for fish production are almost getting out of reach of ordinary farmers.
Olaleye added that formation and launching of the cooperative society came at a time when the need to ensure and guarantee food security and increased production became imperative toward meeting the ever increasing human needs for animal protein in society.
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He said that government, in its commitment to business of fisheries and aquaculture, had on April 17, 2024, commissioned 125,000 tonnes capacity skretting fish and other animal feed plant in the state to boost fish production and ensure food safety in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Abosede Abioye, said that seafood, aside being sources of essential nutrients, it also plays vital roles in promoting state food security and economic development.
“We must commend the management of Lukom Integrated Service Limited and its fisheries Stakeholders for the good initiative to boost fish production and create a stable market for the product.
“The formation of the cooperative society will go a long way to making inputs and finance available at affordable rate to our fish farmers, thereby, ameliorating the challenges of low production and poor pricing as presently experienced by fish farmers, ” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman, Lukom Integrated Service Limited, Mr Lukman Komolafe, said that the launch of the cooperative marks the beginning of a collective effort to accommodate and empower interested members of the public who have interest in the fisheries value chain.
Komolafe noted that the cooperative was designed to empower and grant credit facilities to fish farmers, fishmongers, fish producers and other related agribusiness.
“Beyond economic significance, fish farmers cooperative embodies a spirit of solidarity and unity.
“Oyo State Ejawa, our fish cooperative, is more than just a business entity; it is a vehicle for empowerment and self-determination.
“By joining forces and pooling our resources, we have the opportunity to create economic opportunities, access essential services, address common challenges that we face as a community,” he said. (NAN)
