Nigeria under pressure to meet 700,000MT fish deficit

 

Prices of frozen fish may go up by January as the government moves to stop the importation of 700,000 metric tonnes of fish from December 2013.

Indications have emerged that frozen fish and other aquatic consumables may not be readily available in the market as from January next year if the Federal Government imposes a ban on their importation.

Already, the government had directed all fish importers, in a letter dated October 29, 2013, to ensure “all Bills of Lading must carry dates not later than October, 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) must arrive the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.”

A source also told our correspondent on Sunday that from January next year, shipping companies, including Maersk Line, Safmarine and Wasa Delmas, might not be allowed to bring frozen fish into the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, had at the inauguration of the Special Growth Enhancement Support programme in August, said the importation of fish was not a good business for the country, given its huge natural resources.

He said the ban would promote local fish production through the aquaculture value chain, which had been included in the 2013 GES.

Adesina had also said the Federal Government was addressing the problem of aquaculture, which he noted as the fastest way of growing fish, especially the tilapia and catfish species.

The minister had said the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tonnes of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of value added fish.

According to investigations, the country currently has a total local fish production estimated at 600,000 metric tonnes per annum, which is expected to rise to about 700,000 metric tonnes in 2015, while the importation is estimated at 700,000 metric tonnes.

However, experts say if fish is readily available, the nation’s consumption may rise to 2.6 million tonnes valued at $612m, with a per capita consumption of 13.5kg.

In other words, when the annual local production of 600,000MT is added to the total import of 700,000MT, there will still be a shortfall of about 1.3 million metric tonnes.

Although the price of fish has not risen significantly across the markets in Lagos State, the rise is expected to begin by January next year.

When our correspondent visited some markets in Lagos, the prices of catfish still ranged from N400 to N1,000, depending on the size while other species, including mackerel and croaker were between N450 and N700 per kilogramme, respectively.

A fish seller at the Ojodu Berger Modern Market, Mrs. Yetunde Ganiyu, told our correspondent that she heard ‘the rumour’ of the ban on importation but had not seen the effect as she still sold at the same price.

“We heard that the Federal Government has a plan to ban the importation of fish. The prices of fish are expected to go up in December because of Christmas but I don’t know if it will stay that way,” she said.

Another retailer at Ogba, who gave her name as Ajoke, said she expected that the prices of fish would soon rise because of the ban.

“I just hope that it (ban on importation) will not encourage smuggling as people are doing with turkey. It will be too bad if everything has to be smuggled into this country,” she said.

A stakeholder in the industry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a total ban on the importation of fish would prevent the masses from having access to the protein source.

The country currently farms a few species of fish, including catfish and tilapia. With a total ban on the importation of fish, access to other species such as croaker, Sabala, silver smelt, Pescadilla Hake, among others will be restricted.

According to investigations, aquaculture in the country is expected to grow from its current 153,000 to 1,000,000 metric tonnes by 2020 at a continuous growth rate of about 26 per cent per annum.

However, even with the growth rate, the country might still require over one million metric tonnes to feed the growing population, it was learnt.

The minister had said the aquaculture value chain would encourage massive production of fish with the Federal Government aiming to achieve two million metric tonnes of table fish to replace what was being imported, adding that there were efforts to improve the deep sea fishing.

Efforts to get reactions from some stakeholders proved abortive, as most of them declined to comment on the issue, labelling it as sensitive.

When our correspondent contacted the President of the Association of Fish Suppliers of Nigeria, Mr. Ginger Mba, and members of the association, they all declined  comment, stating that they did not wish to give any information for now, as the development was multi-dimensional and sensitive.

But a senior official of the Ministry of Agriculture, who did not want his name published, said the Federal Government had yet to make a formal pronouncement on the ban.

According to him, the government has been having meetings with stakeholders on the appropriate action to be taken.

“Nobody is banning the importation of fish; the government has not made a direct pronouncement that they are banning fish; we are working on it.

“What the minister is saying in essence is that the Federal Government wants to ban the importation of the farm fish that we are growing locally, like tilapia and catfish, but anything marine fish is not banned.

“There is a misconception within the government on the issue but we are trying to talk to them and they are trying to see reasons. Things will normalise because the government is not bent on banning the importation of fish,” he said.