Strengthening the tilapia sector in Côte d'Ivoire begins at 10 pilot farms
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30 March 2023, Abidjan – The selection of 10 pilot farms marks the start of a ten-year strategy to upgrade the tilapia value chain in Côte d’Ivoire. A report outlining the strategy that aims to help Côte d'Ivoire to achieve self-sufficiency in tilapia production by 2030 was officially presented to the Ivorian authorities.
“I am convinced that FISH4ACP will create new opportunities for those involved in the tilapia sector, improve the quality of products, increase production and incomes of tilapia producers and stimulate economic growth,” said Sidi Tiémoko Touré, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Côte d'Ivoire, on the occasion of the official presentation of an FAO report on the analysis and upgrading of the value chain of farmed tilapia in Côte d'Ivoire.
The Minister stressed that achieving food sovereignty by 2030 is a priority for the country. He thanked FAO, and its partners, for its support through the FISH4ACP project to help strengthen the sustainability and productivity of the tilapia sector.
Among the first activities to achieve this, 10 pilot farms were selected to help promote the adoption of improved tilapia farming and farm management techniques.
“Fish farmers will benefit from training to share knowledge on new and improved business models and related good practices,” said Attaher Maiga, FAO Representative in Côte d'Ivoire, adding: “Training will cover the technical, financial, environmental monitoring and management of fry and food.”
Elena Molina Ruz, representative of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, explained that to strengthen sustainability of the value chain: “these farms should serve as models that can be replicated by actors who want to settle in the sector or strengthen their activities.”
FISH4ACP is an initiative of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OAS) that aims to enhance the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. FISH4ACP is implemented by FAO and funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
According to the report on FISH4ACP’s value chain upgrading strategy, Côte d'Ivoire could become self-sufficient in fish production by adopting a 10-year strategy to increase tilapia production, which would increase from about 7 700 tonnes per year now to 68,000 tonnes by 2031, without putting additional pressure on the environment.
The strategy envisions that national demand for tilapia would be met with a more structured, local and sustainable value chain that would create jobs, respect good environmental practices and improve resilience.
Stéphane Brossard of the Delegation of the European Union in Côte d'Ivoire said he was satisfied that the upgrading strategy addresses: “the issue of sustainability, which implies the economic, social and environmental dimensions.”