Overview of the

Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ)

Training and Skills Development Programme

Programme Objectives
  • To enrich the understanding of 10,000 beneficiaries in aquaculture and resource them with the requisite knowledge, skills and tools to start viable businesses across Ghana.
  • Reduce fish imports by the end of 2025 through the sustainable production of fish to address the deficit challenge in Ghana and contribute to food security

Specific Objectives:

  • To deploy a one-week practical training titled a “Guide to Small-Scale Grow-Out Fish Culture in Tarpaulin Tanks in Ghana”.
  • Provide each beneficiary with a handbook and business startup pack including:
      • tarpaulin tank
      • fish feed
      • fingerlings
Programme Partners:
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Importance of Aquaculture in Ghana

  • Ghana is a fish-consuming nation with an annual per capita consumption rate of 21.5 kg/person/year in 2022. However, we are not able to produce all the fish we need in a year. Most of the fish we eat come from the sea. Fish cultured from farms contributes very little to the total fish we produce.
  • However, we have the water resources and good climate to produce more fish through fish farming, which has the potential to become a sustainable practice that can supplement our declining capture fisheries, reduce fish importation and significantly contribute to feeding the nation’s growing population.

Background and Rationale

  • In addition, the fishery sector is currently a source of direct or indirect livelihoods for 10% of the Ghanaian population. However, marine fisheries capture has decreased, creating a deficit compensated through fish imports valued at over US$200 million annually. Moreover, fish is an important food product in Ghana, accounting for 60% of the national dietary animal protein consumption.
  • Aquaculture is expected to bridge the gap between fish demand and supply in the short and medium term, as Ghana has agro-ecological conditions for the subsector to thrive. Moreover, aquaculture can provide employment opportunities and viable business opportunities for youth (urban, rural, and educated youth) and women (rural and urban), supporting the objective of the government of Ghana to create productive and decent employment for young people and improve food security.

Achievements:

  • Training: 30 trainers of trainers trained;
  • 10,000 training manuals produced, and 9,500 beneficiaries trained in 7 Regions and 164 Districts.
  • Starter pack distribution commenced in Central, Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
  • Fingerlings: 5,931,500 fingerlings have been distributed and this is ongoing.
  • Feed: 210,000 bags of feed have been procured, and distribution is ongoing.
  • Tarpaulin tanks: 6,724 tarpaulin tanks have so far been produced and being distributed, and raw materials for production of the remaining 3,276 procured and production ongoing.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: the AquaMetrix Platform has been activated to track beneficiary progress and facilitate stipend payments.
  • In addition, the R& B team made efforts to enhance programme visibility and impact on youth and community development. R&B also participated in the 2024 Agrifest Exhibition from November 4-8, 2024.

Economic Impact:

  • About 6224 youth equipped with the skills and tools to start their own businesses, and the following indirect jobs created:
    • University graduates have been engaged as trainers of the beneficiaries in small scale fish farming in tarpaulin tanks. They were deployed in 8 groups delivering the training in the selected districts.
    • Additionally, innovations in the packaging of fingerlings for safe transportation have emerged, including the introduction of R&B fingerling gallons.

Social Impact:

AFJ is an inclusive programme and has registered over female beneficiaries in a sector that is historically male dominated. The AFJ also contributes to several sustainable practices as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

  • SDG 1: No Poverty – By providing training and skills, the programme has created jobs which will support poverty reduction among unemployed individuals.
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Promotes sustainable food production systems and supports aquaculture, contributing to food security and nutrition.
  • SDG 4: Quality Education – Offers knowledge and hands-on skills in fish farming, enhancing education and training opportunities.
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Fosters job creation and economic growth through the establishment of fish farm businesses.
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Encourages sustainable practices in aquaculture, promoting responsible production and consumption of food.
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The programme has engendered collaboration with various stakeholders, promoting partnerships to achieve these goals
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