The Jigawa State government has stocked three water bodies with 90,000 fingerlings to accelerate fishery production in the state.

The state governor Umar Namadi stated this on Monday during the 2024 Annual Fishing Festival held at the Kalgwai barrage waterfront in the Auyo Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Namadi said that 30,000 assorted fingerlings had been stocked in each of the water bodies, to encourage fishery production and enhance food security.

He said the gesture would also provide livelihoods to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the citizens.

The governor said that his administration accorded priority to fishery and aquaculture as part of the agriculture transformation programme.

The festival featured water sport contests such as fishing, gourd racing for male and female categories, swimming, diving, among others.

Winners across the categories of the contest received different prizes ranging from cash, motorcycles, water pumps, sewing and grinding machines.

The biggest fish caught during the contest weighed 100 kilogrammes.

In 2016, the state government stocked 300,000 fingerlings at Warwade Dam in Dutse, and distributed fishing gears and canoes to fishermen in the community.

(NAN)