National experts in the fishery sector (researchers and farmers) in the country are currently sharpening their skills in modern rearing techniques with the goal of upgrading national production for home consumption and export. This within the framework of a five-day technology transfer workshop that is going on in the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI) grouping stakeholders from that Ministry and that of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA).

The five-day training workshop organised by the National Secretariat for Technology Development (CNDT) consists in training fish farmers on the different techniques on the production and management of quality fish feed and quality fish seeds. Various speakers at the opening ceremony yesterday December 17 said the quality of fish seed and feed are responsible for the below-level fish production in the country which almost always pushes the authorities to resort to importation. "Generally, we have noticed that when fish farmers get their fingerlings (fish seeds), they just stock their ponds without considering the fact that the fish need to eat. We need the kind of feed that will cause the fish to grow very fast.

During this workshop, we will carry on theoretical and practical demonstrations on how to produce these feed and seeds, on pond management, water quality and fertiliser, among others," Morfow Paul Nkeze, Chief of Service for Aguaculture Extension at MINEPIA, member of CNDT and one of the facilitators at the workshop, said. He noted that the main problem that has held down the fish sector at infancy is quality fingerlings and insufficient quality fish feed as well as insufficient trained personnel to train farmers. Mr. Morfow said machines are now available for fish feed production and with the training, officials will put them at the disposal of farmers to produce quality fish feed.

Like the Technical Adviser No. 2 in the MINRESI, Manga Bella Laurent, who sat in for the Minister, the Permanent Secretary of CNDT, Dr. Likiby Boubakar, said government is doing all to ensure fish self-sufficiency in the country. The training, the said, is part of CNDT mission of selecting foreign technologies that can contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of the country. It will extend to other parts of the country in the days ahead.