Valley View University Collaborates with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Delaware State University to Promote Aquaculture in Ghana

The project which was hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Techiman campus of VVU was funded by the USDA-NIFA 1890 Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development (CEIED). The key highlights of the program included

Ø 3-day intensive practical training on fish nutrition, fish breeding and water quality monitoring and assessment for students, faculty and staff members, women, unemployed youth, and smallholder farmers

Ø Fishing communities’ engagement

Ø Business visits to successful student entrepreneurs in Fish Farming

Ø Educational trip to selected Cultural and Tourists sites in Ashanti, Central, and Bono East regions specifically, Manhyia Palace, Cape Coast Castle, Kintampo Waterfall, and Fiema Monkey respectively.

In all over 100 participants attended the training program. Thirty-Two of the participants decided to establish their own fish farms. In addition, twenty fishermen from Adwafo near Lake Bosomtwe were engaged. Also, two students from VVU who had been successful in establishing a fish farm after attending the training program also visited Brekum. Again, two small-scale farmers associations: Techiman Area Small Holder Farmers and Micro Entrepreneurs Cooperative Society Ltd (TASFAM), and Adventist Agricultural Association (AdAgrA) members in Bono East region, with a population of over 4,500 have initiated talks to receive further training in the Aquaculture program from VVU.