VC targets N800m revenue in 'Operation One Million Catfish'

The Vice-Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, (MOUAU), Professor Hilary Edeoga, has unveiled plans to earn N800 million annually for the institution through catfish farming.

Edeoga unveiled the project, which he tagged 'operation produce one million catfish in a year, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Umuahia.

“We have a project called operation produce one million catfish in a year," he said.

"If you produce one million catfishes in a year, each weighing minimum of 1kg, we have gotten N800m because one catfish of 1kg cost N800."

He said the institution is already early a major chunk of its revenue through fish farming and has the rehabilitated its Fishery/Aquaculture and Poultry departments to ensure their viability and productivity.

“On assumption of duty as the vice-chancellor, l met a Fishery/Aquaculture department without a single tadpole, but today one of the sources of our internally generated revenue, is our fish pond.

“We rehabilitated the hatchery project. Today, the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has recognised this institution in terms of fingerling research and production. We now supply to fish farmers in the South –East," the Vice Chancellor added.

Edeoga also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had in recognition of the university's efforts donated two vehicles to the institution.

Established in 1992, the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture was originally the Federal University of Agriculture, is a federal university in Umudike, Abia