The EKiti State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is partnering with Benin Owena River Basin to fully utilized all the Dams constructed by the Commission within the State.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade who was accompanied by Mr. Fagbuyiro, the Resident Manager of Benin Owena River Basin, Ekiti State visited one of the dams owned by the commission in Aisegba – Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government.
Aisegba Dam was constructed and commissioned in the mid 1990 for dual purposes of cage aquaculture and irrigation of arable crops.
The Dam presently has 5 floating cages managed by the River basin and some artisanal fishermen that are using the water body for natural fishing. Cage aquaculture involves the growing of fishes in existing water resources while being enclosed in a net cage which allows free flow of water.
It is an aquaculture production system made of a floating frame, net materials and mooring system (with rope, buoy, anchor etc.)
Cage fish farming has become attractive because it reduces pressure on land use and the fishes are in their natural habitat, where there is natural exchange of water, high productivity, ease of harvesting and monitoring.
According to Mr Boluwade,It is the mandate of the government (using what the state has have to get what the state wants) to collaborate and partner with existing Federal Government Agricultural related MDAs, Ministry of Agriculture is poised to explore maximum use of these Dams by attracting both public and private sector investment to the floating cage aquaculture activities in the state.
The Special Adviser also met some Aisegba youth during the visit and used the medium to explain various opportunities inherent in the asset situated in their locality – the dam (for irrigation purposes to cultivate horticultural and low land rice cultivation).
He advised the youth to form cooperative society and that the ministry could use several intervention programs like FADAMA to assist them.