Alpha Mansaray is the M&E Coordinator at the SAP Project and he said that, among other things, the objective of the project was to support the development of fish farming in the country so that there could be an increment in production, consumption and at the same time earns a decent livelihood to small scale fish farmers.
Sunil Siriwardena is the Project Manager at the SAP Project and he explained the achievement of the project in the first cycle of implementation; and according to him, huge success was recorded and these are not limited to knowledge on aquaculture, dietary improvement and sustainable livelihood to fish farmers. He also pointed on their exit and sustainability strategies which he emphasized that, fish farmers must work towards them so that their absence in the communities would not in any way hamper the project; and some of these exit and sustainability strategies are knowledge gained, access to credit facilities and available market.
Abu Kargbo is a beneficiary of the scheme and he explained that, he started with a 600 meter fish pond with 1,500 fingerlings by 2016; and currently he added, he has 20 fish ponds at Kalantomba and Dansogoia Chiefdoms – Tonkolili District. Among the benefits his community has received since the inception of the project include: high nutritive value, knowledge gained and direct employment opportunities especially to young people.   Â
Representatives from both Tonkoli District Council and Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources promised their unflinching supports in sustaining and expanding the project in other communities.
