Farmer-to-Farmer (FTF) volunteer Arana Esau provided timely and crucial assistance to fish farmers in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, near Lagos. Farmers became interested in fishponds when an expert from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture began developing fish farming ponds for this community. There was a ready market, buyers lined up waiting for the fish to mature. Unfortunately, this aquaculture expert was unable to offer further assistance to build the fishponds. The farmers were stranded - they had already leased tractors to build larger ponds in March 2001, and the rains were expected soon. They lacked the knowledge to proceed.

Upon hearing about USAID's FTF Program, a resident of the community, Dr. Funmi Ajose, requested FTF assistance. Within two weeks, Winrock was able to recruit a research associate and a manager of aquaculture projects at Auburn University. Mr. Esau has more than 20 years experience managing fishponds and aquaculture farms for private companies and academic institutions.

Mr. Esau oversaw the work and was very involved, digging the fishponds with the farmers at a number of different farms. He gave seminars on feed production and how to establish and build a fish hatchery. He also helped the farmers to organize and build all of these things in the two weeks that he was in Ijebu-Ode, just before the rains.

As a result of Mr. Esau efforts, the fishponds, now complete, have been filled and stocked, significantly expanding the production (as well as management) capabilities of the farms.