From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has concluded an intensive 14-month capacity-building program aimed at equipping over 100 fish farmers in Kano State with advanced technical and data management skills.
The initiative, titled the FISH4ACP Catfish Cluster Upgrading Programme, was sponsored by the FAO and facilitated by Vetsark.
It was designed to uplift local aquaculture clusters through technical training, group development, and data-driven farm management.
Speaking at the third and final Demo Day in the Kumbotso Local Government Area, Aisha Ibrahim, the FAO Programme Specialist in Nigeria, highlighted that the training empowered beneficiaries to adopt improved aquaculture practices and financial literacy.
A key focus of the program was addressing poor record-keeping—a major bottleneck for local agricultural businesses.
Farmers were trained in Best Management Practices (BMP), business administration, and the use of the Aquaculture Data Management System (ADMS).
“The training has ended, but your journey is just beginning.
“Aquaculture must go beyond production. Do not focus on profit alone build businesses that will bring prosperity to your families, your communities, and Kano State as a whole,” Ibrahim told the graduates.
She urged the designated “Lead Farmers” to act as custodians of the knowledge, ensuring the skills spread to other farmers across the state.
The program has already recorded significant impacts on the local aquaculture ecosystem.
Originally targeting 100 participants, high demand from the cluster led the organizers to train over 100 farmers.
According to Program Manager Mayowa Ajayi, fish mortality rates plummeted from a staggering 30%–40% down to below 10% for most farmers.
Also, weekly sessions since May 2025 have directly translated into higher profit margins and stabilized business operations.
For many beneficiaries, the program served as a lifeline for their businesses.
“FAO has brought succour to us. We had actually abandoned the business before they came in.
“Now, we understand water quality, stocking density, and how to detect and treat fungal or bacterial diseases.
“We even learned proper feeding techniques like spot and broadcast feeding to maximize our yields,”shared one of the beneficiaries.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative, the high-performing “Lead Farmers” will remain within the clusters to mentor and train incoming entrepreneurs looking to venture into the fish farming industry.
