The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development has distributed fingerlings and feeds to 840 fish farmers in Plateau under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) schemes.

The inputs were given to the farmers on weekend in Jos at the roll-out ceremony of the 2013 GES for distribution of fish farming inputs to fish farmers in plateau.

Akinwunmi Adeshina, the minister of agriculture represented by Ololade Adegoke, the director of fisheries in his speech said that the gesture was in line with the federal government’s agricultural transformation agenda to develop the sector. The director said each farmer would get 500 free fingerlings and five bags of feeds at a subsidized rate.

The fingerlings are free of charge but 50% of the cost of feeds will be paid by the farmers.5 bags cost #25,000 but the farmers are to pay #12,500 only.

According to the speech, GES in aquaculture is to be carried out in 10 states which are: Kwara, Plateau, Lagos, Kaduna, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ebonyi states and Plateau happens to be the first state in north where GES has been rolled out.

According to the Minister, the gesture was to support the farmers to grow in the business of fish farming.