Sunyani: Madam Joyce Soronzo Salia, the 2023 Bono Regional Overall Best Fish Farmer, has called on the government to construct dams and wells to sustain fish farming in the country. She highlighted that erratic rainfall patterns, attributed to climate change, are adversely affecting fish farming and hindering production. With the establishment of dams and dugout wells, farmers could potentially increase their output and secure their economic livelihoods.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Salia, who owns Farm Life, a fish farming business, shared her concerns about the growing challenges within the aqua-culture sector in an interview at Yawhima in the Sunyani Municipality. She emphasized that the sector is becoming less attractive due to climate change impacts. Her comments came during discussions on the implementation of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP).
The PSDPEP project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is a $30 million initiative aimed at building health-related skills in higher education, restoring livelihoods, strengthening communication, and creating jobs among the youth and women in the country. As part of the project, $4 million is allocated for Small and Medium Enterprises as loans at reduced rates to help them withstand the pandemic’s shock.
Madam Salia further explained that with the construction of dams and wells, the fish farming sector could thrive, meet the growing demand of consumers, and create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. She noted that many fish farmers are under-resourced, which impedes their ability to stay in business. ‘My farm has been significantly affected by climate change impacts. All my ponds have dried up, and I don’t have any fish because of the erratic rains in 2024,’ she shared.
She expressed concerns that without government intervention, many fish farmers could face the risk of going out of business. This could negatively impact national fish productivity and supply, potentially leading to food shortages. ‘Fishing is our livelihood, and without a reliable water source, we will be out of business,’ she stated, urging the government to support fish farmers to produce more for the local market.
Madam Salia called on the government to prioritize water infrastructure for aquaculture to build resilience and sustain farmers in business.