by Yunusa Isa, Gombe
In a strategic push to revitalize the state’s agricultural economy, the Gombe State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali, has inspected the Daɗinkowa Fish Farm and the Gombe Fish Feed Mill to evaluate their operational capacities and outline pathways for immediate rehabilitation.
During the inspection of the Daɗinkowa facility, farm manager Bitrus Philip guided the commissioner through the hatchery, nursery rooms, and production ponds, detailing the current status and capabilities of the installation.
Philip noted that while the farm previously supplied fish across the entire Northeast region and boasts 24 active staff members, operations have been severely constrained by persistent power outages, a lack of broodstock, and facility degradation.
Highlighting its strong potential, Philip explained that the farm is capable of producing and rearing over 10,000 fingerlings at a time, while successfully raising high-demand species like Heterobranchus.
He appealed to the state government to provide a dedicated solar power facility for stable borehole water supply and to help revive the farm for enhanced revenue generation and employment opportunities.
Moving to the State Fish Feed Mill, facility manager Yakubu Adamu demonstrated how the plant utilizes six specialized machines to produce fish meals.
Adamu explained that the mill is currently non-functional following the vandalization of its transformer and subsequent power outages.
Despite these setbacks, the manager emphasized that “With modern and sophisticated machines, this mill can produce over eight tonnes of fish feed within a few weeks to supply both the Daɗinkowa farm and commercial markets,” he said.
He specifically appealed for advanced extruders capable of producing floating pellets to replace the older machinery that currently manufactures only sinking pellets.
“With such machines, the servicing of the existing ones and stable power supply, we can fully bounce back and serve as a major revenue-generating unit for the state government,” he said.
Responding to the findings at both facilities, Commissioner Baba Alkali assured stakeholders that the ministry would take decisive action to restore the installations to full functionality.
He noted that the government may explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the farm for the overall socioeconomic development of the state.
Expressing optimism, the commissioner praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya as a livestock-passionate leader dedicated to the welfare of Gombe residents.
“Fish farming is a lucrative venture that could supply enough nutrients particularly protein for our people, generate employment and boosts economic potentials of our state. We shall therefore not fold arms to watch this important economic sector deteriorate, we shall do all it takes to revive it,” Baba Alkali stated.
The commissioner promised to submit a detailed report on the condition of the two facilities directly to Governor Yahaya. He also commended the governor’s foresight in domesticating the federal initiative to create a dedicated livestock ministry, assuring that he remains fully committed to delivering on his mandate.
The commissioner was accompanied during the tour by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Builder Ahmad Sa’id Guli, and Director of Fishery Micah Wayas Awak, who was represented by Hosea Bozam Doma.