Fish farmer hopes for better yields

Female fish farmer Dian Comrie wants to make a difference despite various challenges.

"The challenges I face are lack of road, sometimes lack of fingerlings (baby fish) and problems with the proper feed to grow the fish to maturity in a timely manner," Comrie said.

The farmer, who is a member of the Nightingale Grove Farm group in St Catherine, said urgent attention is needed for farmers to reap the desired results from their investments.

"I am very concerned about the road especially whenever we are reaping the fish. When it rains, deep holes and large puddles of water take over the road, which needs paving and drainage," Comrie said. She said that she farms in one acre ponds, which hold about 25,000 fish. But with all the upheaval, it is getting more difficult to raise the fish.

She told THE WEEKEND STAR that a fish farmer's day begins at 5 a.m. for six months for each set of fish. Upon maturity, the fish are then sold to vendors for $300 per pound, which is cheaper than the cost for sea fish [$450 per pound]. But there is still cause for concern.

"Each bag of feed cost $3,000 from Hi-Pro. There is only one type available, [and] it is not cheap. The fish are taking more than the six months to mature. We need to have two other types of feeds, until then the struggle continues," Comrie said. She said that it was a risky business especially with the scourge of praedial larceny.

"I have seen people put in 10,000 fish, thieves passed through and is only 600 pounds the owner gets. But I love the challenge, I just need help to continue farming," Comrie said.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pearnel Charles Jr, said that the plight of Comrie is not unusual and he will fast track the efforts of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to address to issue.

"I am aware of the plight of the fish farmers and will be getting a projection from the RADA to see how quickly these matters can be addressed," Charles said. "The fishing industry has the potential to lift the economy to a new level, therefore, it needs all the support necessary to help the farmers supply the wide customer base that are being underserved at this time."