KARACHI (NNI): The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and American Soybean Association officially launched the “Aquaculture Handbook – Fish Farming and Nutrition in Pakistan, says in a press release issued here on Tuesday.

U.S. and Pakistani scientists jointly wrote the handbook as part of an ongoing USDA effort to expand farmed-fish yields and farmer incomes through better fish feeding and management practices.

U.S. Consul General Brian Heath, Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Jam Khan Shoro, Fisheries Development Board CEO Faisal Iftikhar, USDA Project Manager Otto Gonzalez, Aquaculture Handbook Editor Kevin Fitzsimmons, and American Soybean Association Country Director R.S.N. Janjua attended.

“Coastal and inland fish farming present an opportunity to make seafood available to more consumers at more reasonable prices, while generating additional income for Pakistan’s farmers,” said Mr. Heath.

“The U.S. is helping Pakistani farmers make better use of water resources, providing an impetus for supply chain development, and generating demand for fish feed.”  More important, an increase in the supply of farmed fish, said Mr. Heath, expands the availability of protein for Pakistan’s young and growing population.

Since 2011, USDA’s Aquaculture Project has helped train hundreds of farmers through field demonstrations, seminars, and one-on-one site visits. U.S. and Pakistani experts have also helped a local feed manufacturer establish production of high-quality fish feed using soybean-derived ingredients, providing farmers with a ready supply of feed.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects increase farmer incomes and livelihoods by fighting animal and plant diseases, transferring technology, developing marketing systems, and efficiently utilizing water. NNI