WRI supports tilapia production in Yendi

By: Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh
The Water Research Institute (WRI) has trained 30 people in fish farming to help manage the two dugouts stocked with 3,000 fingerlings in Mbatinga and Kpabia in the Yendi Municipality.

The special breed of tilapia called oreochromis niloticus has been introduced to increase household incomes in six communities, under a project dubbed 'Food4Life', with GH¢6,630 being invested in the project, with support from the Community Life Improvement Programme.

Dr. Kwadjo Kwarfo-Apegyah, Director of the Water Research Institute, said this when speaking at Yendi during the first harvesting exercise, where the proceeds were sold to market queens.

He said the main objective of the fish project was to increase fish availability, while enhancing water conservation, employment and livelihood opportunities of the communities, stressing that everything was given freely to the beneficiary communities.

Dr. Kwarfo-Apegyah said malnutrition was a major challenge affecting the wellbeing of many children in Northern Ghana, and with the availability of the fish in the communities, which would enrich their diets, the disease could be greatly reduced.

Mr. Etornyo Agbeko, the Project Coordinator, said cassia and moringa plants would also be planted together with vertiver grass on the banks of the dugouts to prevent flash flooding and erosion.

Mr. Fuseini Sayibu, Assembly Member for the area, said the project was important as it could help prevent the youth from migrating to the south to work as head porters

He said monies realised from the sale of the fish would be used to expand the water facilities that were provided for the community by the NGO. – GNA