Mustapha encourages fisherfolk to explore extra income-generating ventures

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, is encouraging fisherfolk across the country to explore additional income-generating activities instead of solely depending on seasonal fishing.

The diversification, Mustapha said, would help fisherfolk benefit from year-round earning opportunities.

“As fisherfolk you have to have a broader output… because you can’t only depend on one activity for your livelihood. We have to now diversify the sector,” Mustapha said while speaking at an event recently.

He explained that the Ministry of Agriculture has resuscitated the National Fisherfolk Organisation and along with the Fisheries Department, they will  support fisherfolk in developing alternative activities alongside fishing.

Mustapha highlighted backyard crop production as one practical option being promoted, noting that large amounts of land is not required for this.

“So we will look at, for example, if you have your homestead, we can give you a small shade house to start doing different crops in your backyard and you don’t have to have a lot of land to do that,” he said.

Already, Mustapha said in several areas across the country, fisherfolk have already started receiving assistance to branch out into other activities as part of the diversification drive.

“We want you to earn year-round, so that is why we will help you to develop alternative activities, so that you can also have another income other than one income,” Mustapha added.