July 19, 2011

 

Grand Cereals commissions 2.6 million-tonne capacity fish feed plant 

 

 

In its commitment to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, Grand Cereals Limited, a subsidiary of UAC Foods, has commissioned a new 2.6 million-tonne capacity Automated Fish Feed Plant in Jos. 

 

Speaking at the commissioning, Larry Ettah, group managing director/CEO, UAC Nigeria Limited plc, said "this gesture is a major panacea to bridging  the ever increasing fish protein demand-supply gap and reduce over dependence on imports."

 

According to him, the aquaculture sector currently produces about 85,000 tons of fish per annum but if harnessed well, it has the potential of producing 2.5 million tonnes of fish per annum.

 

Ettah said they were encouraged by the Central Bank Nigeria's developmental finance agenda, particularly the Commercial Agricultural Scheme (CACS) initiative under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, of which Grand Cereals is a beneficiary.

 

Ettah, who envisaged prospects for improvement in agricultural sector, noted that this was dependent on provision of agricultural estates with laid out farming plots and support services for small and medium scale farmers, targeted provision of financing support through agricultural credit agencies to these estates and government's provision of extension services to new farmers.

 

He therefore called on the Federal Government to formulate and implement policies that would boost the agric sector as a major contributor to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

 

Bode Emmanuel, chairman, Grand Cereal, who agreed that this project was significant and coming at a time when there was concern for food security, also revealed that the sector had gone through challenges in the past.

 

Layi Oyatoki, managing director, Grand Cereals, in the same vein also appealed to Governor Jonah Jang to extend the current revolution in arable cropping to aquaculture by reviving the Panyam Fish Farm, which is the first commercial fish farm in Nigeria.

 

 Jang, who expressed appreciation in the giant stride and contribution of the company to the economy of the state, thanked the CBN governor for making the fish plant a success story and for the allocation of N1 billion to 26 states of which Plateau State is a beneficiary.

 

Joshua Ozigim, who represented the CBN governor, commended the foresight of the company, saying "the plant is of great significance to the nation that will ensure food security and create jobs."