The country office of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has delivered a set of laboratory equipment and fish feeds to the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy.
Since 2019, FAO has supported the purchase of modern equipment for the fisheries laboratory, along with consumables and reagents, totaling USD 191,555 — the equivalent of 110,667,260 CFA francs.
This initiative aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country. During the handover ceremony, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Eng. Mário Musante, emphasized the importance of certifying national fishery products to ensure access to the European market.
For his part, the FAO Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Dr. Mohamed Hama Garba, stated: “The goal of this support is to prepare and contribute to the certification of the national fisheries laboratory, particularly to facilitate access to the European market.”
He also recalled that, since 2019, FAO has been assisting and supporting the ministry in strengthening the technical capacity of the national fisheries laboratory, with the goal of achieving certification — a key requirement for Guinea-Bissau to export its fishery products.
According to the FAO Representative, this support goes beyond the provision of advanced equipment enabling the laboratory to carry out high-quality analyses. The FAO is also investing in the training of technicians, particularly young professionals. Mr. Garba expressed his satisfaction with the commitment and efforts made — essential elements for the country’s development.
In addition to the equipment, FAO has also provided one ton of fish feeds, further reinforcing its support to the national aquaculture sector and contributing to food and nutritional security.
Guinea-Bissau remains committed to the certification process of its fishery products, with the backing of international partners. Investments in infrastructure such as quality control laboratories are crucial to ensuring that fishing and processing practices comply with the standards required by the European Union.
Source : FAO
