The ministers on Wednesday signed partnership agreement to boost fish and livestock production.

The Ministries of Scientific Research and Innovation (Minresi) and that of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (Minepia) have officially entered partnership through which results of scientific research by Minresi, through the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), among others, could be well harnessed by Minepia to step up livestock and fisheries production in the country. Minresi boss, Madeleine Tchuinte, and her counterpart of Minepia, Dr. Taiga, penned the agreement for the respective ministries yesterday July 11 in the Conference Hall of Minresi.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Madeleine Tchuinte said her ministry, through specialised institutes like IRAD, boasts of research results, especially in the livestock and fisheries sector, which could be used to step up national production for the socio-economic development of the country. "Our country has great potentials to boost fish and animal production, the demand is there but supply is not sufficient. Fish, for example, has a deficit of about 100,000 tonnes per annum. We need to work as a team to meet the growing demand as well as other development objectives of our country," the Minresi boss said. "Minresi, through IRAD, has enormous research results in fishery and animal production that would, by the partnership, be used by Minepia," she added.

Corroborating Minresi, Dr Taiga said Minresi and Minepia are bedfellows and so would partner for the efficiency of government action with regards to the already outlined growth vision of the State wherein sustainable livestock and animal production occupy pride of place.