The Fisheries Commission is embarking on an exercise to help Ghanaians acquire the taste for catfish in the country
The Commission believes when Ghanaians develop the taste for catfish, it will lead to increased production and create more employment
Eating catfish is noted to boost one’s intake of amino acids, it also provides about 40 percent of an adult’s daily intake of vitamin B-12 which helps the body convert food into energy.
Aside the health benefits, the Fisheries Commission believes there is high prospects for job creation and improvement in the livelihood of farmers.
But for the country to achieve this, the Commission says there should be ready market for catfish to encourage more people into the industry
As a first step, the Ashanti Regional Office of the Fisheries Commission has organized a Catfish Food Bazaar to showcase assorted food items served with catfish
The food varieties included soup, stew grilled catfish, salad, kebabs, pastries and smoked ones.
The Regional Director of the Commission, Gideon Boakye, said the Food Bazaar was to help introduce Ghanaians to a number of foods that the catfish can be used in preparing
He stated that the Region currently produces about 100 metric tonnes of catfish annually with about 200 farmers, whilst assuring that the expertise for increased production is available.
However, the major priority, he noted is to help develop the taste for the fish
He further disclosed that the food bazaar will be organised at regional levels and continued in subsequent years for increased consumption of catfish, increased production and possible export to earn foreign exchange
A catfish farmer, Nana Kumah confirmed the farmers are ready to produce the fish in large quantities if the market is available. He admitted the venture is profitable
He, however, appealed to the government to assist in the production of fishmeal in the country to cut down the high cost in importing the fish feed into the country.
