A fish farmer in Kado Fish Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman, has appealed to the Federal Government to give loans to fish farmers.

Suleiman, who made the appeal in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said investing in the business would boost fish production in the country.

“We will appreciate it more if the Federal Government will assist us by giving us loans,” he said.

According to him, this will go a long way in establishing the business.

Suleiman said that the loans would encourage growth in fish farming as well as generate employment opportunities for the citizenry.

“Fish farming is very lucrative if one is well trained in it. It has more profit than other livestock farming if you do it well.

“But the feeds are expensive. It ranges from N5, 200 per bag and you need to feed the fish three to four times a day.”

He advised the government to always involve stakeholders in the process of policy formulation and execution on agriculture rather than non-practising farmers.

“Government should also endeavour to involve farmers in policy formulation than those who sit behind the desks in the ministry.”

Suleiman, however, decried the patronage of fish in the FCT, adding that live fishes brought from Ibadan on a daily basis were not bought

because consumers complained of lack of money.

“Patronage is very, very low, a lot of people are complaining that they have no money. We have stock but no patronage.”

One of the challenges facing fish marketers, Suleiman remarked, was the issue of robbery attacks and frequent accidents while transporting the products from Ibadan to Abuja.