Ghana will need US$84.3million to boost aquaculture production to 100,000 tonnes in 2016, according to the five-year Ghana National Aquaculture Development Plan (GNADP).
Seventy-eight percent of the cost will be borne by the Government of Ghana as public investment and 22% will be mobilised as direct investment from the private sector.
Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mr. Musa Saihou Mbenga, said the GNADP provides a road-map whereby aquaculture will contribute to food and nutritional security, employment generation, increased incomes, economic growth and poverty reduction.
He said it is estimated that by the close of 2012 more than 50 percent of the world�s food fish supply will originate from aquaculture
Aquaculture trends in Ghana over the last few years have been on the rise, he said, with current annual production at about 10,200 tonnes as compared to output of 1,000 -- 3,800 -- and 7,100 tonnes in 2005, 2007 and 2009 respectively.
�This positive course testifies to the fact that the nation has potential to improve on its current fish farming output and make even greater contributions to food security and economic growth.
�The Fisheries Commission, in its bid to exploit the country�s full potential for aquaculture, has set an ambitious target to achieve 100,000 tonnes of farmed fish in the next five years.
�This, when realised, will significantly contribute to bridging the gap between fish demand and supply in the short- and medium-term, a gap exacerbated by the downturn in the fortunes of the nation�s capture fisheries,� he said.
Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Mike Akyeampong, said the project will help to reduce the over-dependence on fish from natural sources.
�Ghana requires 880,000 tonnes of fish annually, but production from natural sources is about 50% of the requirement while 200,000 tonnes of fish is imported annually -- which leaves 200,000 tonnes unaccounted for.
�With this development plan, we hope to reduce the deficit to about 100,000 tonnes and increase local production to about 540,000 tonnes annually.�
<<Print>>