Fish farmers brainstorm on productivity

In order to enhance productivity in the fishery sector, the National Fish Farmers Union of Liberia or NAFFUL brainstorms here to enable members overcome challenges confronting the fishing industry.

A one-day forum was held on Friday, 16 March at the YMCA in Monrovia under the theme: “Enhancing conflict prevention and peace consolidation through increased food security in the fishery sector,” with support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

The head of NAFFUL, Madam Kona S. Kollie, says the forum was intended to educate Liberians fish farmers on key preservation methods. She notes that the meeting was also aimed at teaching members of the three cooperatives under NAFFUL to manage three storage facilities that were constructed by the organization in Buchanan, New Kru Town and West Point, respectively through the support of UNMIL.

“What we did was to first get those people, who were involved into artisanal fishing, into three separate cooperatives. And after that, we decided to build three storage facilities for members of the various cooperatives. These members now are charged with the responsibilities to ensure that those facilities are properly used and managed. And to do just that, we needed to train them,” Madam Kollie indicates.

According to her, each of the storage facilities contains seven large freezers that can preserve fish for the longest time possible. Madam Kollie, who is also head of the Young Women Organization (WOFIN), discloses that the group has also decided to recruit less fortunate Liberian youth otherwise known as “Zorgos” into the fishery sector by providing training for them.

“What we aim to realize under this very program is to buttress government’s pro-poor agenda by getting those youth off the streets to provide employment opportunity for them,” she explains.

one of the participants, Patricia Jordiah, lauds Madam Kollie and the NAFFUL leadership for the forum. Patricia, a fish seller at the Duala Market and residence of Popo Beach Community on Bushrod Island, Monrovia says the knowledge acquired will enable them to make headways in the fishery sector.

-Editing by Jonathan Browne