Asaba — At least 52,000 fish farmers have been trained in the management of aquaculture in Delta State. The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ifeanyi Ashiedu said 52 of them were trained as trainers in Lagos recently.

She lamented that camp 74 fish farms estate at Anwai, near Asaba, the state capital was ravaged by flood and fish ready to be harvested escaped because the fish ponds were damaged.

In addition, she said the owners of the three groups of camp 74 fish farms lost about N4.5 million being money received from the state government to establish the fish business.

But, the National Agricultural Insurance Company (NAIC) paid N945,000 to each of the fish farmers as insurance claim thereby paving way for the young fish farmers to remain in the business.

The commissioner who asserted that agriculture is the economic mainstay of the rural dwellers, employing over 60 percent of Deltans, said the state is already collaborating with UNIDO and other relevant agencies to develop various agricultural chains in order to boost the economy of the state.

She disclosed that the state is championing the use of cassava flour in the production of confectioneries through cassava snack made from composite flour which consists of high quality cassava flour, beans flour and other ingredients such as onions, mixed spices, baking powder, salt and sugar.