To boost the fish and aquaculture value chain, no fewer than two hundred and sixty constituents drawn from Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency in Osun State, have received a start-up grant of N100,000 each.
A statement obtained on Saturday in Osogbo indicated that the agric empowerment programme was sponsored by the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Lukman Mudashiru.
The participants, who received training in fish farming, preservation and marketing, were also promised additional N500,000 each after six months if the initial N100,000 take-off grant was used for the purpose it was meant for.
Speaking to participants during the training, Mudashiru, who said the intention was to make his constituents employers of labour, added that he would personally inspect farm of the each of the participants in another six months to ensure that they properly utilise the grant.
The statement, quoting Mudashiru further read, “After six months, I will personally inspect your farm. Once we see that you have a thriving fish farm, you will receive N500,000 additional grant to expand your business.
“Our target is to make many constituents employer of labour. It is our own way of fighting poverty using agriculture to create jobs and add value.”