Kakata, Liberia – June 30, 2025—As part of a national initiative to revitalize Liberia’s aquaculture sector, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), with support from the World Bank through the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project, has officially launched a comprehensive aquaculture training program targeting fish farmers across four key counties: Margibi, Bong, Lofa, and Nimba.
The first phase of the training commenced in Kakata City, Margibi County, with 50 fish farmers participating in a six-day intensive program. The training combines theoretical instruction and hands-on practical sessions, focusing on enhancing aquaculture productivity and sustainability.
Over the course of July 2025, similar trainings will be conducted in: Bong County: 200 participants Lofa County: 125 participants Nimba County: 125 participants. This brings the total number of trained fish farmers under this initiative to 500.
The training program is designed to address knowledge gaps and introduce modern aquaculture technologies and management practices. Participants will gain skills in fish biology, pond construction and maintenance, feed production, water quality monitoring, sexing of fish, record-keeping, and sustainable aquaculture techniques. The six-day training in each county includes three days of classroom-based instruction with visual presentations and three days of hands-on learning at selected private fish farms.
In addition to the general farming population, members of the Agriculture Battalion of the Armed Forces of Liberia also took part in the Kakata training, signaling a broad-based commitment to aquaculture development.
Upon taking office in March 2025, the Acting Director General of NaFAA reaffirmed the Liberian government’s commitment to transforming the aquaculture sector into a sustainable and income-generating industry.
Representing Mr. Saygbe at the opening event, Ezekiel Allen, Chief of Office Staff, emphasized that the Boakai-Koung administration is dedicated to creating an enabling environment for year-round fish production and will continue to invest in capacity building for rural fish farmers. He pointed out that the Acting Director General is highly interested in scaling up and improving aquaculture and inland fisheries as a major alternative for livelihood and nutrition within rural Liberia.
Also speaking at the ceremony was the NaFAA’s Director for Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries, Zizi Kpadeh. “This initiative marks a new dawn for aquaculture development in Liberia,” said Mr. Zizi Kpadeh, Director of Aquaculture at NaFAA. “We urge all fish farmers to make the most of this opportunity to improve their practices and increase their productivity.”
Photo Caption: Ezekiel Allen, Chief of Staff To Cyrus Saygbe, NaFAA’s Acting Director General
In response, Augustine F. Moore, Senior Technician of the County Cooperative Society, expressed appreciation for the training, pledging the cooperatives’ support in advancing aquaculture and calling for similar opportunities in other counties.
This training program not only aims to increase fish production but also supports the government’s broader agenda of food security, rural economic development, and employment creation.
