The African Development Bank (AfDB)
The Government of Benin and the African Development Bank have launched the 'Project to Promote Sustainable Aquaculture and the Competitiveness of Fisheries Value Chains'.
This initiative, which has received around 24.6 billion CFA francs, aims to increase the contribution of the fisheries and aquaculture sector to food security and local economies.
Over the next five years, the idea is to introduce floating cages and aquaculture villages over large areas. Therefore, aquaculture businesses will modernize their tools and increase their production capacity. Also, the project will help to improve the governance of inland and marine fisheries.
Regarding this, Gaston Cossi Doussouhoui, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Farming and Fisheries, said: "I would like to thank the African Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility for their ongoing support of the government and beneficiaries to achieve food and nutritional security in Benin."
According to the African Development Bank, aquaculture annual production in Benin amounts to 65 million young fish (including tilapia and claria) and employs around 15% of the working population. The country depends on fish exports as its national production only covers 40% of national demand.
"A significant part of the fishing community in Benin has waited a long time, and now the project is underway," noted the minister.
Because Benin's fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector has been "underexploited", the government promoted several interventions and private-sector initiatives in 2016.
Additionally, Robert Masumbuko, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for Benin explained that entities like the bank can "expand its portfolio and position itself as a key partner for Benin’s socioeconomic development."
"I would urge all project team members to carry out their activities diligently and would like to reassure them that the African Development Bank Group will do everything it can to ensure the success of a project that is so important for the people of Benin," he added.
During the Aquaculture Network for Africa 2nd General Congress, celebrated in mid-January, the East African Commission (EAC), has urged for "private sector development and the elimination of bottlenecks in the value chains to unleash the full potential of the African Aquaculture sector."
