Don laments declining supply of fisheries, advocates commitment to reduction of post-harvest losses

Professor Bayo John Oluwasegun Ayorinde, a Professor of Fisheries Economics and Post-Harvest Activities at the premier University of Education in Nigeria, Tai Solarin University of Education, has condemned the declining supply of fisheries to meet the nutritional needs of the growing population of Nigeria.

Prof. B.J.O. Ayorinde stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture titled ” Once upon a water, post-harvest activities of fish: Anguish of producers and consumers.

Speaking during the inaugural lecture held at the University recently, Ayorinde lamented the non-availability of required number of fish to meet the nutritional requirements of the people while alluding to poor post-harvest practices and approaches as one of the main factors.

The Professor of Fisheries lamented the declining supply of fisheries to supply the nutritional requirements of the growing population. In his words, : Fish supply in Africa has been declining for a number of reasons while the demand has increased  due to the increase in human population, decrease in livestock production due to desertification,  disease and drought. A decline in fish availability will have a detrimental effect on the nutritional  status of the citizenry particularly in places where fish contribute significantly to the protein intake  of the people. 

Providing the historical perspective of fish farming in Nigeria, Professor Ayorinde stated that Fish farming was introduced to  Nigeria in the early 1950s. He asserted that factors such as the need for more income for the family and creation of employment increased fish production in the country.  In his words, : “Increase in fish production through fish farming is  driven by socio-economic objectives including nutrition,  improvement of rural communities; generation of additional family income, creation of  employment and diversification of income generating activities.” 

Emphasising the importance of fisheries, the don stated that : ”The harvest, handling, processing and distribution of fish provide livelihood for millions  of people and also provide valuable foreign exchange earnings. In both the industrialized and  developing countries, fish is an important and cheaper source of protein. Fish is also used as source  of other nutrients such as micronutrients, minerals, and essential fatty acids” 

Ayorinde who is a former Dean of Student Affairs of the University claimed that God Almighty gave a preferential treatment to fish because of its invaluable attributes. Drawing inference from the Bible, the don asserted that fish was not as vulnerable as other animals as it escaped from the biblical flood disaster despite not being in the ark

“Land animals and birds were selected to board the ark, but fish and sea creatures were not (Genesis  6:19-21; 7:2-4). This would seem to indicate that sea creatures did not need the ark in order to  survive. Genesis 7:20-23 lists animals that died, but sea life is not included: “The waters prevailed  above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth,  birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.  Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living  thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the  heavens.”

After the Flood, “God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with  him in the ark” (Genesis 8:1). Why didn’t God “remember” the fish and sea creatures? They had  not been destroyed like the other animals, Ayorinde posited.

According to Ayorinde, the anguish of the producers and consumers is premised on the fact that fish is one of the most perishable food items and its spoilage is a one-way process. That  is, fish loses its freshness and quality after death and in the end becomes unfit for consumption

The don further clamoured for a concerted effort at reducing waste and improving the quality of fish.

“Our attention must be  directed at reducing waste and enhancing the value of the fish currently being caught. Improving  the efficiency of post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of fish can significantly improve  the livelihood of primary producers and petty fish traders. Consumers will also benefit through the  availability of better-quality fish and fish products.”

“There is an urgent need to develop a better processing and preservation agent that will  ensure longer shelf life and good quality fish products while at the same time will be accessible to  both artisanal fish farmer and consumers.”

“In spite of all the benefits associated with agriculture, the level of adoption of aquaculture  among household appears to be very low and then fish production in Nigeria has not  reached the expected level to meet the consumers demand and for income generation so as  to reduce poverty among fish farmers in the country especially in Ogun State.”

He therefore suggested that Government should concentrate most of its assistance to fish farmers on the supply of  inputs like cutlasses, fertilizers, sprayers, limes, anti-biotic, improved fish seeds, improved  fish feed, chemical etc at subsidized rate.  

“There is a considerable wastage that occur after capture. The  need for proper handling and processing of fish is important both for the fishing industry and for  the consumers.

Small-scale fishermen are the major ones to face problems in handling, transporting  and marketing fresh fish under difficult conditions such as at high ambient temperatures. The  absence of adequate facilities both on fishing craft and ashore prevents the distribution of good  quality fish. As a result, microbial spoilage and contamination by pathogenic bacteria occur.

This  can have important implications for the export trade, especially as more stringent international  quality parameters are applied worldwide. The quality of the harvested fish can be maintained and  shelf life extended by simply using appropriate post-harvest handling practices and treatment.”

In order to ensure the availability of fishery commodities at reasonable prices without  denying a fair return on investment to the fisherfolk, Ayorinde advocated for Participatory Value Chain Analysis, establishment of market linkages between producers and consumers and Implementation of a price regulating mechanism such as suggested retail price (SRP)  that should be area and species-specific.

BJO as he is fondly called is a 1994 graduate of the prestigious Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria also known as the most fabulous campus in the universe. He has an uncommon global record of having served as the President of the Students Union and as the National President of the Alumni. He obtained both his MSc and Ph.D at the premier University, University of Ibadan in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

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