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Fish ponds in Camp 74, Anwai River, Asaba, Delta state Nigeria.

The Association of Camp 74 Fish Farmers, Anwai Road, Oshimili South Local Government, Asaba has sent a Save-our Soul message to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State calling for an urgent intervention so as to avert imminent occurrence that is threatening their investments in fish farming.

The Association expressed their concern and appeal in a message titled: “Appeal To Create Favourable Environment for Fish Farming By Channelling The Anwai River Closer To The Fish Ponds In The Farm,” and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Diyen Friday Eseomoghie and secretary, Mr. Oyise Benjamin.

The letter 8 March, 2021 and addressed to the Governor through the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Asaba, reads: “Your Excellency, we would want to once again draw your kind attention to a challenge that could put us out of business as fish farmers along the Anwai River, if not addressed as soon as possible. Luckily, it is a challenge that has a near easy solution. The bed of the Anwai River is getting deeper above the level of the farm where the fish ponds are situated; thereby making smooth supply water to nourish the fishes in the ponds a difficult task.
‘It may interest you to know Your Excellency, that this sudden challenge has been eroding deeply into our earnings, as we now spend about N5,000 weekly to pump water from the river into each of the over 1,000 ponds situated in the farm along the River Anwai. Failure to do this has resulted in the death of the fishes and threatening our investments as fish farmers in the area.”

The fish farmers stated they believe that redirecting the course river closer to the fish farm by burrowing through the embankment created in the course of disilting the river could serve as a measure to stem the present blockade of water supply into the various ponds in the farm. “The distance from the present course of the river through the embankment is leas than 50 metres,” the fish farmers stated.