Nigeria: Catfish farmers receive boost as Lagos provide blast freezer to curb post-harvest losses

SEYI TAIWO-OGUNTUASE Fish farmers in Lagos, specifically, those under the aegis of the Lagos State Catfish and Allied Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN), are in for a boost as the state government through the Agro-Productivity, Processing, Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) project, a world bank funded project has supported the group with a blast freezer for catfish to reduce post-harvest loses and curb effects of fish mongers. Worried by the extent of post -harvest losses recorded yearly in the catfish subsector as well as exploitation of fish farmers and right pricing, the stakeholders in Ikorodu division where the blastfreezer was launched, said the project is a dream come through for them. Speaking at the commissioning of the LASCAFAN Ikorodu blast freezer centre and launching of the frozen catfish product during the week, Abisola Olusanya Commissioner for Agriculture, said that the project was to promote value addition. She said introducing frozen catfish would ...