Last updated on 23 April 2022
Women in Oman, Nigeria and Guyana advance the fisheries and aquaculture sector
WHEN Agbato Olubunmi started her own fish production and processing firm in Nigeria in 2017, both men and women wondered if she was up to the task. She persisted, and her company is now thriving in a country considered to be the world’s largest producer of African catfish.
After graduating with two degrees in fisheries and aquaculture management, Agbato combined her savings with loans from friends who believed in her vision, and she bought a plot of land which she says gave her more respect from the community.
“Before I got my land, there was reluctance in selling to a female,” she recalls.
She started with one pond and one oven. She now employs a team of 13 – 11 women and two men – and draws her fish supply from eight aquaculture ponds.
“As long as the population keeps increasing, there are a lot of opportunities for many people across the value chain,” Agbato says.
Her company produces and packages a range of items including smoked catfish, fish spice, fish oil and fish powder for the burgeoning domestic and export markets in neighboring African countries, as well as the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
FAO is working with producers like Agbato through FISH4ACP, a global initiative which aims to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development and create jobs and business opportunities, in particular for women and youth.
Nigeria’s aquaculture production has expanded from 22 000 tonnes in 1999 to more than 300 000 in 2017. Since the catfish sector generates one million direct or indirect jobs there, Agbato believes there is plenty of potential for further development.
Beyond her own business, she trains other women on how to establish their own startups in the fish processing sector and has a vision for what she calls a “one-stop shop” for women.
“I’m talking about having a fish processing community, where all the women who are engaged in fish farming or fish processing can come along with their produce and sell it at a ready market,” she says.
Quality control in Guyana
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Subrina Singh works as a senior quality manager for the largest fish and shrimp processing company in Guyana.
The 33-year-old was recruited by her company after graduating from the University of Guyana. She joined the processing company 13 years ago, holding various positions before being promoted to her current managerial job.
Subrina says she enjoys interacting with and training other employees on her company’s safety management system which she helped to develop.
“My responsibility involves overseeing the overall quality and safety of the company’s products to ensure it meets all the requirements of the customers and all laws, requirements and regulations,” Subrina says.
Subrina says it’s common for companies to employ female managers in the quality control area, even though she recognizes men are still mostly employed on fishing vessels.
Working with FISH4ACP is important for ensuring long-term sustainability of the fisheries sector, as Subrina says fishers and fish processors in Guyana are dealing with the impact of climate change. There are signs that climate change has reduced catch numbers, particularly seabob shrimp, and contributed to an increase in sargassum seaweed in the waters off the coast, she says.
“As a woman the possibilities are endless when you are part of a dynamic sector such as fisheries,” she says.
Women have played a vital role in fisheries and aquaculture for centuries but now they are making strides and seizing opportunities to start their own businesses or seek management roles. FAO is supporting their efforts to increase their visibility and contribution to this globally important sector. – www.fao.org
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