Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Fish farming is also known as aquaculture. It’s a process where fish are kept scientifically in a body of water for either commercial or household gains.
There is high demand for fish all over Nigeria both at the local and urban areas, this is because of the massive population of Nigeria, the need to eat ballance diet, the need to serve delicious fish recipes at various event centers and ceremonies.
Unfortunately, this industry is yet to operate at full capacity. Nigeria’s demand for fish is estimated to be 3.6 million metric tons annually, while local production of fish is about 1.2 million metric tons. This means that we import 2.4 million metric tons of fish annually in Nigeria.
You can see how empty and unsatisfied this industry is making it one of the profitable businesses to start considering.
They are various species of fish like Catfish, tylipia fish, crayfish, ice fish, stock fish and many more which are highly demanding in the country.
AVAILABLE BOOKS ON FISH FARMING
- Simplify fish pond management
- Fish farming in Nigeria: a beginners guide to building a profitable fish farming business
- Fish and bee farming course
Catfish business in Nigeria
Catfish farming is the most popular and widely acceptable specie of fish farmed in Nigeria, this is because of it adaptability and ability to survive and reproduce in all climate and weather conditions.
They are relatively simple to take care of, suitable for both experienced and experienced farmers to setup. They grow fast, within few months usually two to three, they are ready for consumption depending on your target market.
Nigerians love eating Catfish ‘point and kill ‘ as some people call It. There is no place in Nigeria you won’t see or hear about it, it’s been prepared in various ways and serve in restaurants, hotels, bars, night clubs, homes, busy streets and junctions.
I remember when I was working in a hotel in Abuja, they sent me to buy catfish from market four to five days a week, I usually went to the market in the morning before they sold all. This is how undeserved the business is, mostly in big cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, owerri, port Harcourt etc.
Starting Catfish farming
Starting your own Catfish farming, they are various factors like deciding a niche, financial requirements, availability of equipment, land, medication, source of water, as well as target market you need to consider.
1. Deciding a niche
They are various niches to specialize like hatching, buying and selling of fingerlings, breeding of juvenile.
Each category comes with a peculiar financial obligation, resources and challenges. All of the categories are doable and profitable, conduct a feasibility study, for more insights.
2. Training or experience
It’s advisable to have a deep knowledge of the business before venture into it. However, this business is very simple to understand, you don’t have to embark on a long training before starting up.
Spend your time to read books, blog posts, articles relating to your industry, attend seminars, consult experts and most importantly, network with and, or learn under practicing farmers either as an employee, apprenticeship or partnership.
If you have enough fund, you may hire an expert to guide you through the installation of pond, introduction of fingerlings, selection of the right fingerlings, understanding the symptoms of ill ones , administration of right medications and prevention of disease outbreak.
3. Mobilize resources
This stage is where you have to make available all the resources needed for your business, this will enable you to actualize your profit motive or objective. Listed below are the resource you must consider :
* financial resource:
You must have to meet up financial requirements to start up the fish farming business. Catfish farming can be quite expensive provided you don’t have land or space and borehole. The process of getting them is capital intensive but if land and borehole is already on ground, other expenditures are minimal.
* land or space
This is not the business one can run on air, If there is an empty land in your backyard, you can start small while aiming big, if you have an undeveloped land somewhere, you can as well make use of it else, you must buy or rent land for your fish farming.
As a beginner, you don’t even need a large portion of land to start up except you would like to start big, fortunately, they are mobile ponds like tank and trampoline that are cable of housing five hundred fish depends on how large and deep they are. These numbers of fish can give you considerable income.
Also read: types of fish pond used in Nigeria
* equipment and materials used for fish farming
These refer to all the things you need for smooth operation of your farm, Luckily, you don’t need many equipment and materials.
As mentioned earlier, well constructed pond with fresh water, preferably, borehole water, taps, holes, basins, buckets, medication, feeds, others include incubator, generator or electricity to power it and many more depending on your chosen niche.
* Human resource (employes),
If you are starting small, it is advisable, you do it alone while consulting expert for mentorship. but, you have to employ competent and experienced employees, hire expert to train you and your workers if you intend to start big,
You are not alone, your business partners like where you buy equipment and materials from will provide you with sufficient information needed for your fish farming.
* medication
Practicing the following tips will save you from spending money on drugs or medicines
- Regular changing of water to prevent breeding of disease and appropriate feeding.
- Detect early symptoms of disease and provide the right treatment. Common symptoms are pilling of their skin, whitish skin, weakness, refusal to eat, always floating at top of the pond.
- Always wash the pond before introducing new ones,
- Separate sick ones to avoid escalation of disease
- Quarantine new fish for some days before introducing them to the main population to prevent introduction of pathogens.
* Feeding
Balance diet such as appropriate proportion of carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and minerals is essential for the growth of your fish and their total wellbeing just as humans.
So, select right feeds, give them the right quantity of feed as well as appropriate frequency of feeding.
They are going to fend for themselves by eating insects, worms, spirogyra. Using earthen and block pond is ideal for their self feeding.
5. Promotion and marketing
Ensure you promote your business consistently, this will expose you to large customer base and more opportunities.
The best places to locate buyers are hotels, clubs, restaurants, gardens and markets. You can sell at wholesale and retail prices depending on your target market.
Set up professional social media business pages to gain more online exposure, tell your friends, family, neighbors about your business.
Also read: how to start exporting fish from Nigeria
Conclusion
If you thinking of starting a catfish farming business, you are in the right direction. It is one of the profitable businesses in Nigeria one can think of.
The demand for Catfish in Nigeria is high, this is because of our love to eat it. It’s widely acceptable and consumed all over the country.
But, before you go into the business, ensure you have prior knowledge or work with experts. This will help equip you with all the necessary skills required to succeed in it.
[…] Also read; starting a successful Fish farming in Nigeria […]