The Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) Initiative launched and piloted in 2018 by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Ministry has benefitted 456 persons.

The Ministry said the initiative enhanced aquaculture training and extension as well as institute measures to contain and prevent fish disease to reduce fish death.

This is in line with government’s medium term vision to use the aquaculture sub-sector to increase domestic fish production and generate additional jobs and employment along the aquaculture value chain for the youth.

This came to light when the sector minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye took her turn to brief journalists at the “Meet The Press” series organised at the Information Ministry, Wednesday.

She said the 465 beneficiaries have been trained in Aquaculture Best Practices, Pond Construction, Pond Management and Harvesting. 

Some of the institutions which have benefited from this training include; James Camp Prisons in Greater Accra (3 ponds), Techiman Nobel Youth Association, Techiman at Bono East (10 ponds constructed, stocked & feed provided), Atwereboanda Pentecost Youth group at Adansi, Ashanti Region (10 ponds constructed).

Others are Osei Tutu Senior High School in the Ashanti Region (4 earthen ponds constructed, stocked & feed provided), Wenchi SHS (4 ponds constructed), Dormaa Senior High School in the Bono Region (10 ponds and 4 ponds constructed), Balofiri Youth Group (8 earthen ponds) and  St Francis Xavier Seminary (4 concrete tanks), Ashanti Regional Fish Farmers ass (8 cages constructed, stocked & feed provided).

On fish disease control, the Minister disclosed that her outfit has so far vaccinated aquaculture establishments along the Volta Lake enclave with the Aquavac-Irido Vaccine. 

“About 3.1 million fingerlings have been immunized with a survival rate of 99.3% on 13 farms.

 The Ministry will continue with the vaccination exercise and provide extension services to aquaculture establishments and training to small and medium-scale fish farmers as well as hatchery operators.

The training was on Biosecurity Measures at farm level and Hatchery Management, quality fingerling production and Best Aquaculture Practices including feed formulation, disease detection and early warning systems”, she stressed.