The Soe community in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region has recorded its first tilapia harvest under the government’s Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) Programme.
The community harvested fish from two cages, producing 140 kilogrammes of tilapia per cage, with buyers travelling from nearby communities to purchase the fish.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary group, Aduko Atiah said the initiative had provided members with new skills and an alternative source of livelihood.
She said the group initially had limited knowledge of fish farming but gained the necessary skills through training provided by the Fisheries Department, including cage management and feeding practices.
Mrs. Atiah encouraged more women to consider fish farming as a viable economic activity, describing it as an opportunity to produce nutritious food while generating income.
Representing the Upper East Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Sarah Bachon-Ene Mwinibuobu Bamie, the Manager of the Vea Fisheries Hatchery Centre, David Batsa, said the programme aims to improve food security, create jobs and provide alternative livelihoods for communities.
“The major aim is to contribute to food security through resilient alternative livelihoods, empower the youth, create employment opportunities and improve access to quality protein for our communities,” he said.
The Assembly Member for the Awukabisi Electoral Area, Apangaboya Ateo, commended the Fisheries Commission for introducing the project in the community, saying the response from buyers demonstrated the economic potential of aquaculture.
The Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in collaboration with the Fisheries Commission to increase fish production through support for farmers with fingerlings, feed, training and extension services.
The programme has also been implemented in other parts of the Upper East Region, including Builsa North and the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, as part of efforts to promote aquaculture development and improve livelihoods.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bongo
