The Ogun State government has distributed modern fish smoking kilns (ovens) to thousands of fish farmers in rural communities, across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The gesture is aimed at boosting the farmers’ businesses and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fish farming and its value chain.
Speaking while distributing the tools to some beneficiaries in Abeokuta on Thursday, Taiwo Oludotun, the commissioner for Rural Development, explained that about 1000 fish farmers would benefit from the initiative, adding that 30 units of the device would be shared among the fish farmer cooperative groups, whose members had been trained by the state government.
“We all know that fish is a perishable product and the essence of providing this fish smoking kilns is for us to be able to preserve our fish and possibly empower our people in the rural area. So, make sure you use it wisely and ensure other people benefit from it”, he said.
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Victoria Ojelade, the director of fishery, in the state ministry of agriculture, called on the interested farmers to register their farm organisations with the Ministry for similar opportunity, pointing out that only recognised groups would benefit from the government’s programme.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Yetunde Akinsowon and Talabi Adewunmi, presidents, Model Farmers, Owowo, Ewekoro and Ejalonibu Farmers’ Cooperative, Araromi, Sagamu, respectively, welcomed the distribution of the kilns, noting that the gesture would enhance business and living standards of the members.
