Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) volunteer Arana Esau provided timely and crucial
assistance to fish farmers in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, near Lagos. Farmers
became interested in fishponds when an expert from the International
Institute for Tropical Agriculture began developing fish farming ponds
for this community. There was a ready market, buyers lined up waiting
for the fish to mature. Unfortunately, this aquaculture expert was unable
to offer further assistance to build the fishponds. The farmers were
stranded - they had already leased tractors to build larger ponds in
March 2001, and the rains were expected soon. They lacked the knowledge
to proceed.
Upon hearing about USAID's FTF Program, a resident of the community,
Dr. Funmi Ajose, requested FTF assistance. Within two weeks, Winrock
was able to recruit a research associate and a manager of aquaculture
projects at Auburn University. Mr. Esau has more than 20 years experience
managing fishponds and aquaculture farms for private companies and academic
institutions.
Mr. Esau oversaw the work and was very involved, digging the fishponds
with the farmers at a number of different farms. He gave seminars on
feed production and how to establish and build a fish hatchery. He also
helped the farmers to organize and build all of these things in the
two weeks that he was in Ijebu-Ode, just before the rains.
As a result of Mr. Esau efforts, the fishponds, now complete, have
been filled and stocked, significantly expanding the production (as
well as management) capabilities of the farms.
Fish Farmers Expand Aquaculture Facilities
