Secretary to the Aquaculture Association of Ghana says the high cost of tilapia feed is adversely affecting tilapia farming in the country.
The occurrence Mr. John Dzomozoro explained is leading to low patronage by consumers due to the resultant high cost of the fish.
According to the tilapia farmer, prices of feed per kilogram have increased from Gh¢ 3.7 to Gh¢ 4.7, a development he said is collapsing and downsizing most major farms especially in the Asuogyaman and Akosombo zones as consumers patronized other fishes which prices are cheaper than tilapia.
Aquaculture development and growth in Africa have been on a low ebb despite the vast aquatic resources that abounds on the continent. Since the introduction of aquaculture to Africa, some decades ago, there have been a lot of innovations, technological advancement and progress in the areas of genetics, seed propagation, pond construction and farm management in general.
Despite breakthroughs recorded in these areas most farmers in Africa still rely heavily on imported feed ingredients and fish feeds from European countries, which makes fish farming expensive as fish feed account for at least 60% of the total cost of production. This has contributed in no small measure to the slow pace at which aquaculture is advancing in Africa.
Mr. John Dzomozoro who disclosed this in an interview with Eric Boafo during the ‘Akuafo Sesen’ segment of the Rite Morning Ride on Thursday also observed that the opening of the Bagrei Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso invariably leads to the overflowing of the Akosombo Dam, a situation that remains another challenge for tilapia farmers.
He attributed fish mortality in cages to the opening of the dam since the fishes are not used to the new water.
The situation, he said, compels tilapia farmers to either relocate their activities or harvest the fishes prematurely since the fishes are not used to the new water.
Source: Prince Paul Amuzu/www.ritefmonline.org/princeamuzu667@gmail.com
