Catfish farming in Nigeria is becoming an interesting trend as people are making ends meet in the business. It is obvious that people are taking to farming in general as a hobby, specialty, or even as occupation. Whatever the reasons many go into it, a good number of people are having fun making money out of it.
Catfish farming is one that Nigerians are beginning to adapt, and if you don’t see a future in it, it might interest you to know that catfish farming works well in Nigeria and even Africa as a whole because of the warm climate.
Why You Should Try Catfish Farming in Nigeria
The first and important reason why you should be involved in catfish farming business in Nigeria is to make money out of it. However, there are other reasons why you should go into catfish farming.
Unlike many species of fish, catfish is particularly a survivor. This fish can survive as long as two days out of water because it has both gills and lungs. Aside from all these fascinating facts of the catfish, this fish is said to be clever. When it falls off water, it always has a way of finding its way back – this feature is not found in most fishes.
In spite of the numerous species of fish in Nigeria, people love catfish as it has a good amount of meat, it is cheaper than meat, it is tasty; and for farmers, easy to rare and it grows faster than most animals. In fact, catfish is eaten in different places in Nigeria – from homes, bars, hotels, etc. in many relaxation centers, catfish is known as point and kill. For those who have ventured into the farming of catfish to make money, a lot have made significant figures.
Also, there is a very large market for catfish in Nigeria for you to make anything from 200,000 Naira to the millions depending on the size of your farm.
GUIDE TO CATFISH FARMING
Carry out a research
This is important to every successful thing you wish to go into, and catfish farming is not an island. If you see yourself as a future fish farmer, then the first and most important thing to do is to research on it before you make a move. You cannot be profitable if you have no idea on the size of the market and your target consumers, or even how to rare the fish. It is also important to know the demand for catfish in the market. If possible, find potential buyers of catfish before they are due for selling. You wouldn’t want your fish to stay more than its stipulated time as it might cause you to spend more and gain less.
Know the size of the farm and where to rare
It is of topmost importance that you know the size of the farm you want to start. Of course, the size of your farm depends on your capital. Advisably, starters should start with a little number of fish and get familiar with how the farming works. You can start fish farming in ponds or tanks as used by many in the country. Starting in ponds is usually more expensive than starting with tanks. If you consider using the pond, have it in mind that your pond should be made shallow and the depth of the pond is also very essential as it determines the availability of oxygen for the fish.
Know the right feed
You cannot become a successful catfish farmer if you have no idea on the right feed to use. Hence you should know that protein is the most important of the fish’s diet and the more your catfish eats, the more it grows into a healthy animal that will, in turn, attract buyers and a good amount of money. Your fish should be well fed with a meal that contains amino acids like methionine, lysine, and arginine. The more your fish grows, the more you increase the quantity of feed.
In Nigeria, feeding of catfish is mostly done using pelleted floating feeds. Instead of scattering the feed in the water, it should be put in a particular side of the tank or pond to reduce wastage.
Know the cost of starting catfish farming
Having done your research and knowing the size of the farm you want to establish, you should have an idea about the number of fish you want to rare. Know how much pond, tank or even feed and vaccination will cost you. In your research, you probably must have asked questions about the prices of fingerlings, pond, feed, etc.
Water Supply Source:
Raring fish without good water is a total waste of time, resources and energy. Since catfish is a freshwater animal, use water of high quality for raring. The best water for catfish farming is from a borehole or river and must be changed regularly. Do not use water that has been treated, rainwaterr or even acidic water. Use PH metre to check the acidic level before using it on your farm.
See Also: CLASSES OF FOOD – WHICH SHOULD YOU EAT MORE OF?
Fingerlings:
Having all the knowledge above, it is time to start raring. Fingerlings are very important to fish farming. In fact, fish farming without fingerlings is no longer fish farming. It is the fingerlings that will mature for consumption. It is crucial to know the type of fingerlings you’re buying. Be sure to get fingerling of high quality as they will determine the outcome of your fish at the end of the day.
Care for catfish
- Take care of your fish as much as you can and study them as well. Watch them closely as they are delicate animals.
- In case you notice any change in them, seek help. When changes include red spots or there’s an inflammation of the body, loss of color, sore, frayed fins, inactivity, loss of appetite, erratic swimming, darting, excess mucus, etc. might be as a result of disease or infection. When any of these symptoms is noticed, get help because as little as the disease might seem, it could lead to the loss of the whole fish in the farm.
- Sorting out the fish according to size is very important. This will help prevent cannibalism because the big fish are known for feeding on the fingerlings.
Finally
Fish farming in Nigeria is a business that if done well, will continue to lay golden, stable eggs for years based on the fact that there is always an increasing need for it as for not just its taste but its nutritional value to humans.
Before you embark on your journey to becoming a catfish farmer, know that it is quite difficult to manage fish as compared to a lot of animals. Also, it takes catfish roughly 6 months to reach its full maturity. But the good news is; if done well, the profit will be worth the work and money put in the farm.
However, if done well, there’s good profit that accompanies catfish farming in Nigeria that will be worth the work, time and money spent in the entire process.
