USAID, Chi Farms partner to raise 4,000 tonnes of fish

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chi Farms limited have entered into a partnership to enhance capacity of small-scale farmers in the country and to add about 4,000 tonnes of catfish into the nation’s food basket yearly.

The partnership, which is part of the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative, aims to assist entrepreneurs to become successful catfish farmers.

Chi Farms, according to the project layout, will ensure supply of quality feed and catfish juveniles to the farmers by enhancing its feed milling and hatching capacities.

Executive Director, Chi Farms Ltd, Martin Middernacht, said that the partnership would add positively to the overall food security in Nigeria.

Middernacht said: “We are delighted that USAID has decided to support the proposed initiative of Chi Farms. At the same time, it is at the core of what we do at Chi Farms. We are convinced that working with out-growers is a step in the right direction towards sustainable economic development.”

Besides fish farmers as the first beneficiaries, the partnership will also train over 6,000 soy and maize farmers to meet the quality standards of Chi Farms. They will be closely integrated in the supply chain of the fish feed mill.

USAID director, Roland Oroh, said that the positive impact on smallholder farmers across the maize, soybean and aquaculture sectors will create a consequent impact across all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.