Minister of Agriculture the Hon. Saboto Caesar speaking on Star Radio thanked traditional fishers for their work throughout the years and noted that it was time for those conventional fishers to take fishing to the next level.
“We have to acknowledge that the traditional fishers have done an excellent job, in terms of ensuring that we have fish, ensuring that there is food security and nutrition security, but in thanking the traditional fishers, we have to see now how we can lift the game, and how we can take them to the next level.”
Minister Caesar detailed some of the ways that traditional anglers can take their craft to the next level.
“We have to be prepared to go to sea; we have to have our radios, you have to walk with your life vests, you have to have ice on the boats, the four-stroke engine is advised because it is more efficient, we have to utilize the FADs”.
Ceaser said, gone are the days when anglers go out there and throw down the line.
“Sometimes three days would pass with no catch; you need to have an organized relationship with an off-taker”. The Agriculture Minister said.
An offtake agreement is an arrangement between a producer and a buyer to purchase or sell portions of the producer’s upcoming goods.
This type of agreement may be negotiated far in advance, often before the construction of manufacturing facilities and before actual production has begun.
Offtake agreements can help buyers lock in a price and guarantee the supply of a product in anticipation of future demand.