The Minister for Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, has reiterated government's commitment to helping fish farmers to boost fish production through aquaculture.

She said her Ministry's hopes were that by the year 2011, the aquaculture industry should be able to provide 50 percent of Ghana's local consumption needs, which was about 400,000 metric tons currently.

Mrs Asmah was launching a micro-credit support scheme for fish farmers at Soabe in the Kwaebibirem district. The occasion was also used to distribute fingerlings to the fish farmers.

She said the Ministry had procured two back whole loaders for pond construction and two trucks for the supply of fingerlings and feed.

It has also trained more than 300 people throughout the country in fish farming processes, she said, adding that the trainees included inmates of the prisons.

The Kwapong farms at Soabe where the ceremony took place was the first recipient of the macro credit support scheme with Mrs Asmah releasing 50,000 fingerlings into one of its five ponds.

The Minister also presented 50 bags of fish feed to the director of the farms, Miss Vida Kwapong.

Source: GNA