Tilapia fish farm is expected to be developed in El Socorro which could bring down the rising price of fish in the country, says Arnold Piggott, Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Marine Affairs. He also said that due to the high price of fish on the market, the government welcomed the tilapia farming initiative, which would be developed with a view to providing a cheaper alternative to consumers.
Piggott informed that tilapia, as a fish, is high in protein and it is a cheaper source of protein supply. He added that once the prices of fish reduce then the consumers will have cheaper prices on supermarket shelves. According to him the tilapia fresh water fish is farmed in many countries and can be grown as a single production activity or in integrated agricultural systems with plants and livestock.
El Socorro resident, Jameel Mustapha, said the decision of the government to start tilapia farming in the area is widely welcomed, since this type of fish, which was usually sold in the San Juan market, was “plenty cheaper”. Mustapha said consumers could pay as low as $6 for three pounds of fish.
Piggott expressed that the government is keen to provide any kind of support, financial or otherwise, to the individual residents who were actively involved in developing the project. He also informed that apart from tilapia farming, the government would press on with other initiatives with a view to developing the agricultural sectors, so as to make the country self sufficient in food.
