By Buertey Francis BORYOR
Ghana has been warned to boost its aquaculture sector by harnessing innovative technologies from Israel.
According to the Deputy Chief of Mission-Embassy of Israel in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Aviel Avraham – who was speaking at the morning forum organized by the Economic and Trade Mission of the Embassy of Israel in Accra and the Chamber of Aquaculture-Ghana on Tuesday , August 8, 2024 – harnessing such technologies will enhance the country’s food security, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
The event had a theme “Strengthening Ghana’s Aquaculture Sector: Leveraging Innovative Technologies from Israel”.
While acknowledging that the country’s aquaculture sector plays an important role in its national economy – contributing about 3 to 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing employment opportunities, he noted with concern that the dwindling fish supply is insufficient to provides affordable protein for a growing population.
“The aquaculture industry in Ghana faces challenges – such as limited knowledge of aquaculture investments, lack of information on the economic performance of various fish farming systems and inadequate supply of quality feed and seed fish – that have long hindered aquaculture development,” it added.
Consequently, he said the development of the country’s aquaculture is critical and non-negotiable as a strategy to bridge the fish supply and demand gap – and produce a surplus for export.
He also underlined the importance of ties between the two nations and said that Israel’s agricultural initiatives in the country have focused on knowledge transfer, capacity building and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies.
“The relationship between Israel and Ghana has been one of mutual respect and cooperation, particularly in the field of agriculture. Through various partnerships, we have worked hand in hand with the Government of Ghana, policy makers and the private sector to share best practices and technological developments.
“This commitment to collaboration is embodied in the many training programs, workshops and partnerships we have created over the years. Key among these is the ongoing 11-month agricultural training program for graduate agricultural students from Ghana who will visit Israel to study and work,” he said.
“This forum is not our first engagement in Ghana’s aquaculture sector. Several specialist professionals have benefited from different training programs organized by the MASHAV Agriculture Training Center in Shefayim, Israel. Recently, 4 professionals have benefited from our training,” he added.
The forum aimed to introduce innovative Israeli technologies that can boost aquaculture production in the country, as well as create a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences related to aquaculture production. It was also to encourage collaborations and harness potential between industry players in the aquaculture sectors of Ghana and Israel.
Israel has long been recognized for its expertise in agricultural innovation, turning arid deserts into fertile lands and establishing itself as a world leader in water management and agricultural technologies.
Ghana’s current fish production from aquaculture is 132,000 metric tons per year and about 10 percent of its population depends on the aquaculture sector for their livelihood.
