The Ivorian Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, was at the Loka fish farming station to officially launch PSTACI, a significant program for transforming Ivorian aquaculture. The project aims to produce 550,000 tonnes of fish per year, thus leading the country towards self-sufficiency.
The program was initiated last February, but the Ivorian Prime Minister chose to make it official. A renewable five-year project is essential for the Ivorian state in the context of inflation and food insecurity.
In Côte d'Ivoire, most restaurants offer grilled or braised fish. According to Prime Minister Patrick Achi, fish now represents more than 50% of the animal protein intake of Ivorians. But national fish production only covers 14% of the population's needs.
Despite its 550 km of coast full of fish, 3,400 km of rivers and hectares of lakes and lagoons, Côte d'Ivoire imports the majority of carp, tilapia, captains and jawfish from Asia. Patrick Achi estimates the cost of fish imports at more than 300 billion CFA francs each year. And the country is even the first importer of frozen tilapias worldwide.
According to the government, the sector is underdeveloped due to the high cost of imported food, the lack of qualified human resources and the low level of investment in the industry. This program should thus make it possible to revitalize the sector, create jobs and attract new companies.
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