A University lecturer and Professor of Aquaculture at the University of Ilorin, Wasiu Jimoh, has urged Government environmental agencies, waste management authorities, private agribusinesses, and aquaculture entrepreneurs to establish integrated waste-to-feed programmes that convert fish processing wastes, insect biomass, and agricultural residues into quality feed ingredients for the aquaculture industry.
He noted that this will promote circular bioeconomy principles, reduce environmental pollution, and create additional employment opportunities.
Professor Jimoh disclosed on Thursday while delivering the 306th Inaugural Lecture of the University titled: “Green Feeds, Healthy Fish: Enhancing Acquaculture Productivity”.
The varsity don added that, “Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture, in collaboration with universities, researched efficiency institutes, and feed manufacturers, should provide dedicated funding and commercialisation support for the development of alternative protein sources from underutilised plants, insects, and agro-industrial by-products for use by aquafeed manufacturers and fish farmers.”
While stressing that the move will reduce dependence on imported fishmeal and soybean meal while lowering feed costs, Professor Jimoh added that, Universities, research institutes, biotechnology companies, and commercial feed millers should jointly develop, optimise, and transfer affordable feed-processing technologies, including fermentation, extrusion, enzyme supplementation, and thermal processing, to feed manufacturers and farmers.
According to him, “This will improve nutrient digestibility, eliminate anti-nutritional factors, and enhance fishery. Universities, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, aquafeed manufacturers, and research institutes should collaborate to develop, validate, register, and commercialise phytogenic feed additives derived from indigenous medicinal plants for adoption by fish farmers.
“This will improve gut health, nutrient utilisation, disease resistance, and reduce dependence on synthetic chemotherapeutics. Feed manufacturers, veterinary professionals, fish health specialists, and regulatory agencies should formulate, certify, and promote functional aquafeeds containing probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and natural immunostimulants for routine use by fish farmers. This will strengthen disease prevention, reduce antibiotic misuse, and improve fish welfare and productivity.”
At the well attended gathering which was chaired by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole SAN, the Agric expert said: “The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, relevant regulatory agencies and the National Assembly, should formulate and implement policies that provide research grants, tax incentives, and innovation financing for sustainable aquafeed development while enforcing feed quality and safety standards for the benefit of producers and consumers.”
He however, noted that, Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), extension agencies, universities, NGOs, and farmers’ associations should organise regular hands-on training programmes on low-cost feed formulation, feed processing, fish health management, and sustainable production practices for small-scale fish farmers. This will improve farmers’ technical capacity, productivity, and profitability.
Professor Jimoh, an alumnus of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, therefore advised Universities, market research organisations, agribusiness firms, and government agencies to conduct periodic consumer preference and market intelligence studies and communicate the findings to producers, processors, and marketers. This will ensure that aquaculture production responds effectively to consumer demand for quality, safe, and sustainably produced fish.
