FISH FARMING: STARTING A PROFITABLE FISH FARM IN NIGERIA (BASICS)

About 80% of fish farmers in Nigeria engage in catfish farming and it is the commonest type of fish used in aquaculture in Nigeria. One of the most popular agribusinesses in Nigeria is the fish farming business and for several good reasons.

 In this article we also covered the below topics about  

•WHAT IS FISH FARMING

•IMPORTANCE OF FARMING

•TYPES OF FISH FARMING IN NIGERIA

•BASICS OF CATFISH FARMING

WHAT IS FISH FARMING

Fish farming simply involves commercial breeding or rearing of fish in natural or artificial enclosures. Fish farming is a branch of aquaculture in which fishes are raised in enclosed to be sold for food .Fishes are raised commercially for human consumption

IMPORTANCE OF FISH FARMING

1.) SOURCES OF INCOME FOR FARMERS : Fish farming is very lucrative, each year fish farmer generate alot of revenue from farming and breeding fish

2.) EMPLOYMENT GENERATION : Farming occupies am important sector in the economy and hence serve as a source of employment to many people

3.)SOURCES OF FOOD: Fish is a vital source of food for people .It is man's most important source of high protein  providing 16% of the animal protein consumed by the worlds population according to the Food And Agricultural Organization (FAO) in the United States

4.) HIGH SOURCE OF REVENUE :By properly  investing #2000000 into the fish farming business should make noting less than #3000000 after a period of six months

5.)NO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Fish farm can be at up anywhere as it does not contribute to pollution of the environment as other industries

LIST OF FISHES THAT CAN BE FARMED IN ENCLOSURES

Cat Fish –

Even though Catfish is not the most popular fish in Nigeria, this fish species is by far the most cultivated in Nigeria. One thing good about catfish is that it is one of the easiest fish species to cultivate. So, people naturally flow to the direction of fish specie they found to be the easiest to cultivate.

2. Tilapia –

Second most popular fish in Nigeria’s aquaculture industry, Tilapia is a fish species that lives in fresh shallow water. Tilapia is very easy to cultivate and very popular in Nigerian market, it reproduces very rapidly and grows fast too.

3. Mackerel (Titus) –

This is by far the most popular fish in Nigerian market but so sad it’s not farmed. All Mackerel Fish are “wild caught” but some farmer in Nigeria are considering the possibility of creating artificial salty water that will be similar to sea water where mackerel can only survive. Can this deep blue sea fish specie be cultivated artificially? Only time will tell but for now, you have to focus your attention to Catfish 

BASICS CATFISH FARMING IN NIGERIA

Let me start by giving you a quick overview of the state of fish farming in Nigeria.

The most common species found in Nigeria are; Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clarias X Heterobranchus hybrid (Heteroclarias) and Clarias nigro-digitatus.

Heterobranchus sp are very common in the south eastern part of Nigeria with clarias spp dominating in the west.

Despite the popularity of catfish farming in Nigeria, the fish farming industry can best be described as being at the infant stage when compared to the large market potential for its production and marketing.

This is mainly due to unavailability of fingerlings owing to lack of adequate infrastructure for hatcheries and fingerling production.

CATFISH BREEDING

if you intend to go into catfish farming in Nigeria, the first thing you have to get hold of is the fingerlings.

The fingerling can be obtained mainly through artificial propagation in the hatcheries through hormonal induction.

If you intend to produce your own fertilized eggs, you can make use of the homoplastic pituitary gland suspension.

In Nigeria, it is usually more affordable than the imported hormonal analogues. Fish Farmers also say that they are more reliable. And I seriously don’t doubt them.

But despite the beauty of induced spawning, there are challenges which you must face: both biotic and abiotic challenges.

These problems all have their root in the extra care needed to be given to the fry during the first week of life. In this regard, you have to battle with provision of zooplankton which serves as feeds for the larvae, fry and fingerlings thus playing a major role on their growth and survival.

There is also the problem of cannibalism, heavy predation by frogs/aquatic insects and the abiotic challenges such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen (>4.5mg/L-1), levels of ammonia. The brood stock to use for the purpose of breeding should be between 0.3kg and 2kg.

STAGES OF CATFISH LIFE AND NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS

Fingerling Stage: 1mm Sized 57% Crude Protein Pelletized Catfish Feed. See Their Size At Fingerlings Stage.

At the fingerling stage they were very small.

2. Post fingerling stage: At this stage the fishes were fed with 1.5mm sized , 57%crude protein pelletized feed.

3. Juvenile: The fishes were the subsequently fed with 1.8mm feed(57%crude protein).

4. Post-juvenile: 2mm(47%crude protein) and now the fishes are being fed with 3mm feed(42%crude protein).

Polyculture of catfish with other common fish species like tilapia fish also very popular in Nigeria.

Polyculture of catfish in tanks with tilapia or other fish species ensure proper use of supplementary feed and higher production.

FEEDING

For successful fish farming and better production in Nigeria, you have to feed the fish good and nutritious supplementary fish feed.

Always ensure sufficient availability of amino acids like arginine, methionine, lysine and crude protein in their feed. Fishmeal is a great source of crude protein.

You can also use some low cost conventional or unconventional animal by-products and plant residue in fish feed. Groundnut cake, soybean meat etc. are Plant residue those can fulfill the nutrient requirements of catfish.

Nowadays, most of the fish farmers of Nigeria are using pelleted floating feeds. This types of food ensure all necessary nutrients for fish and help to increase growth rate and production.