By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
President of the Ghana National Aquaculture Association, Mr. Francis De Heer, is calling for increased patronage of locally produced tilapia and catfish to boost the aquaculture industry. According to him, high patronage would motivate fish farmers to produce more, ensuring a steady supply of fish to meet local demand.
‘’We need better patronage as fish farmers and ready markets too so that when harvest is ready, there are buyers,’’ he said.
Speaking on GTV’s breakfast show on August 26, Mr. De Heer urged Ghanaians to eat tilapia and catfish every Friday at restaurants, Chop bars, and hotels.
To promote the consumption of tilapia and catfish, he said the association is launching the “Tilapia and Catfish Friday” initiative. The event, scheduled for this Thursday at the Food Recess Institute, aims to encourage Ghanaians to include tilapia and catfish in their diet, particularly on Fridays.
According to him, the association believes that if every Ghanaian consumes tilapia or catfish at least once a week, it would create a ready market for fish farmers, enabling them to produce more and supply fish to every Ghanaian family at affordable prices.
Speaking on the challenges faced by the association, he mentioned the high cost of feed and the decline of fish production despite the country’s high fish consumption.
Also speaking at the interview, a member of the Ghana National Aquaculture Association, Naga Murali highlighted how tilapia has become a luxury though Ghanaians enjoy Banku and tilapia to the point that it has become a staple.
According to him, the association is ensuring that fish is supplied to every Ghanaian home at very affordable prices.
The Ghana National Aquaculture Association’s initiative aims to address these challenges and promote the consumption of locally produced tilapia and catfish, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of Ghana’s aquaculture industry.
