Kelvin Chen, a Taiwanese Aquaculture Specialist, has told the Daily Observer, that a Fresh Water Fish Farming Project at Sapu in Central River Region, would be ready by June this year.

The project was sponsored by the International Cooperation Development Fund in Taiwan.

In an interview with the Daily Observer, Mr. Chen said the construction of the project was contracted to the Taiwanese Technical Mission (TTM) and this includes the construction of fish ponds. He disclosed that Gambians are currently being trained by TTM on aquacultural activities, for commercial purposes.

According to him, he discovered that aquacultural activities are very uncommon farming practices in The Gambia. “This is the reason of constructing the fish ponds in the aquacultural centre in Sapu”, he said. He therefore called on all interested Gambian farmers to visit the site at Sapu in order to benefit from the training.

He expounded on the importance of aquaculture towards poverty reduction and ensuring food self-sufficiency.

Mr. Chen then appealed to the government of The Gambia to establish an aquacultural research centre, where students of the Gambia College and the University of The Gambia, can conduct research on aqua-cultural activities. Mr. Chen expressed delight at the University of The Gambia for showing interest in activities of the project, as it prepares to cooperate with the TTM for joint ventures.