Catfish Farming Business In Nigeria

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How much does it cost to start a catfish farming business in Nigeria?

Indeed, the biggest problem facing Nigeria as a nation today is how to feed its teeming population of over 150 million people.

The local supply of this essential human life requirement, particularly in required quantity and quality has been somewhat inadequate. The local supply of fish and allied contents for human consumption has been put at below 40 per cent aggregate demand.

See Also: The Pros and Cons of Working Remotely

A bigger percentage of animals’ protein supply in Nigeria comes from foreign sources, a situation the government has been trying to arrest.

However, the government’s efforts at closing the supply and demand gap for table meat/fish products and related nutrients by establishing farm settlements have really changed the situation.

It has become a task that government institutions alone cannot handle. Complimentary efforts of private individuals and corporate bodies are required.

It is on this note that I contribute my quota by offering more insights and training on the catfish farming business.

I believe that providing solutions to food problems in Nigeria is one most important issues that are yearning for urgent attention.

Therefore, you can become a multi-millionaire through catfish farming since the demand for catfish in Nigeria is more than its supply.

This article is in 10 series and I intend to put you through the catfish farming process in such a way that has never been done.

Forget whatever you may think you know about catfish farming because in this article you will find more insights into why you (who may have been doing the catfish business) could not profit from it.

I am not asking you for money and am not selling any e-book or CD to you; this is just my contribution as I mentioned earlier.

But you’ll need to take your time to read the whole 10 series of this article to understand the catfish farming business in Nigeria.

Is Catfish Farming Profitable In Nigeria?

Catfish farming is the domestication of catfish ponds by using an intensive method of rearing fish for a period of between 5 and 6 months or more. Catfish farming is highly practised in most countries, located in tropical and temperate regions of the world.

In Nigeria, catfish is a highly sought after freshwater fish because its acceptance cut across language, tribe, religion and cultural barriers.

However, the development of fish farming operation (catfish farming inclusive) is still a little above infancy in Nigeria, hence the demand for catfish far outstrip supply making the catfish market a seller market.

This situation has even been aggravated because of the fall in fishing activities due to a fall in the quantity of fish available in the wild.

Rivers pollution (especially due to oil exploration and other industrial activities) as well a rise in population have led to aggravating the situation.

The rise in the cost of meat and the awareness among the populace of the nutritional quality of fish (especially catfish) over meat has led to high demand for fish, which even the attempt to import over the years has not been able to solve.

In order to solve these problems, especially the demand and supply inequality for catfish which has assumed a status of its own as the most sought after freshwater fish in Nigeria, I have taken it upon myself to empower you with the necessary skills to go into catfish farming in order to boost the supply and also to create investment, income making and employment opportunities for you.

Having acquired the necessary skills and information, catfish farming is a big-money market as well as an employment generator.

The profit margin is overwhelming, while the operations used are simple, hence it can be operated on a full or part-time basis.

Species Of Catfish In Nigeria

There are 3 major best species of catfish that are commonly reared in Nigeria. They include CLARIASGARIEPINUS (the African specie of catfish family), HETEROBRANCHUS and HETEROCLARIAS (a hybrid catfish).

Catfish farming consists of 2 major aspects which can either be carried out individually or as an integrated process. They include the hatchery/nursery aspect and the grow-out/secondary aspect.

The hatchery/nursery aspect involves the inducement of female catfish to lay eggs that are stripped fertilised, whereas the grow-out/ secondary operations involve the nurturing of the catfish fingerlings to adult table size catfish suitable for safe consumption.

Both can be practised together or differently depending on the capital and facilities at your disposal.

BASIC CATFISH FARMING OPERATIONS REQUIREMENTS

LAND: Fish farming as another form of farming, requires land, irrespective of the scale of your operation. The bigger the scale of your operation the bigger the land space required. The land in question must be well fenced or protected in order to secure it from encroachment by poachers, predators, erosion, industrial wastes and other things that may endanger the fish and enhance your investments. With respect to concrete ponds, they could be constructed in residential areas, even a residential compound as long as there is adequate space and it is fenced off to prevent children and domestic animals from drowning in the pond.

WATER: There must be a good source of water, especially borehole, well, stream water, underground or any other water source free from chlorine, salts iron, oil or other dangerous chemicals and contaminants. As for streams and or spring water, it should be properly channelled, filtered and screened to remove predators.

ELECTRICITY: Alternative source of power, especially electricity, generator or solar-powered source has to be provided irrespective of whether there is power from PHCN or not because you need electricity for water pumping and also lighting.

WATER PUMPING MACHINE: You’ll require 2 different types of pumps: the one is a submersible pumping machine which you’ll need to pump water out from the borehole and the other is a surface pumping machine which you’ll use to pump water into or out of the pond. Don’t get confused here, I shall elucidate clearer as you read on.

WATER STORAGE TANK: Water storage tanks are a must, especially for concrete pond systems. Depending on the scale of your operation you may require one or more water storage tanks for between 1,000 and 5,000 or more litres capacity.

AIR PUMP: Depending on the scale of your operation, you may require a heavy-duty, medium, small or even a smaller capacity air compressor or pump, such as the one used in vulcanising. The air pump or compressor is required for the purpose of aerating the pond water, deodorising it and causing pond water turbulence in order to make the fish more agile, while also stimulating their appetite. This is with particular regard to concrete pond systems.

FENCING MATERIALS: Fencing materials like block, cement and rods are essential.You could also use bamboo stakes or other similar materials as substitutes for a while so as to secure your fish. This doesn’t mean that you should not provide human security.

Here are some of the equipment and tools needed:

• Pipes And Fittings
• Filters
• Shovels     
• Machetes
• Plastic Basin
• Hand And Table Scales
• Rain Boots
• Fish Nets, Etc.

In my next series on the catfish farming business in Nigeria, I shall be giving you more insights into POND TYPES and POND CONSTRUCTION.

This article was updated 2 weeks ago