Agriculture

However, rising costs of fishing inputs and environmental issues like pollution and climate change have caused a decline in artisanal fish catch. This has widened the gap between fish supply and demand, further strained by the growing population and increased fish consumption.

To significantly boost fish production in Lagos State, aquaculture is being promoted to sustainably meet the annual fish demand of 374,000 tonnes. The initiative began with various projects, such as the Homestead Fish Pond Propagation Project, Fish Farm Estate Projects, and numerous fish farms across the state’s five Administrative Divisions. These efforts add an additional 35,524 tonnes of fish annually. There is potential for aquaculture to meet 100% of the state’s fish demand through land and water-based systems. The government has adopted the use of open water bodies, like lagoons, for fish culture using fish cages to accelerate production and create jobs for women and youth, particularly in artisanal fishing communities. This method has been successful in cultivating scaly fish and other species not easily raised in conventional ponds. The objectives of the fish cage culture system are to: promote the use of open water for fish culture, cultivate scaly fish and other hard-to-raise species, stimulate economic activities in host communities, and provide alternative income for artisanal fishermen during off-seasons.

IBILE Holdings Limited (IBILE) actively supports a range of government initiatives aimed at enhancing agriculture and fish farming in Lagos State. By backing these projects, IBILE contributes to the sustainable growth of the agricultural sector, promoting increased fish production and better farming practices.