How to start a fish farming business in Nigeria,as you know, fish farming is a very lucrative business in Nigeria since the economy is dwindling down with the foreign exchange rate soaring high with each passing day and the drastic fall of the stock exchange market.

Many Nigerians are already considering other alternatives, so as to diversify their source of income and what better way to do that if not investing in fish farming. why do i think fish farming is a good investment? the answer to that is not far fetched at all mainly because fish is a daily consumable meal that is consumed on a daily basis my million of Nigerians.

before i go further in rendering a more in depth look on how to start a fish farming business, i would like to take your minds back to the genesis of it all. In the olden days, fishes were gotten from lakes and rivers as long as you know how to throw in a bait with a hook in a strategic positions, your daily meal is certain to find its way to you

Bur today fish farming business has become a commercialised venture and with the large influx of investment being floundered daily, one can only see the potential and benefits of the fish farming business

[center]BENEFITS OF FISH FARMING[/center]

1. Products of Fishery is by far the most popular animal product in the Nigerian market. The average Nigerian and by average, i mean most Nigerians find it relatively easy to purchase fish compared to meat which makes it the number one choice for most Nigerians due to its affordability as a result of the different breeds and species available.

2. Fish is a very good source of protein. It has very low fat and is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as vitamin D and B2 (riboflavin). Fish is also very rich in calcium and phosphorus and is equally a great source of zinc, potassium,iodine, and magnesium. Omega-3 fatty acids is extremely beneficial to the human heart, it helps keep our heart and brain in perfect condition. Since the body does not produce Omega-3 fatty acids, the only source through which we obtain them is from our diet i.e. fish.

3. Fish grows really fast compared to other livestock or poultry farming. They grow at an increasingly rapid rate which makes it easy for farmers to deliver them to the market as at when due hence making profit in return. the rate at which they multiply is also overwhelming, so it takes little capita;l to invest in fishes asides the infrastructure and facilities needed to maintain and sustain them.

4. Fish farming is very profitable. With proper planning, management and a good investment, you could turn N1 million venture to N5 million enterprise in about 3 years ( this is based on my own assumption and my sense of urgency). The cost of setting up and managing the fish farm though will primarily depend on the size of your pond, because having a big pond will mean more fishes, more feed to buy, bigger water reservoir, and of course bigger profit margin.

5. Fish farms do not cause any environmental hazards. Unlike poultry farming, you can set-up fish farms anywhere, including residential areas. If you have a large compound, you can easily set-up a small pond in one corner of the compound or at the back of your building.

6. Fish farming (especially catfish) go very well with poultry farming as you can use the poultry drops to make feeds for the fish.

how to start a fish farming business in Nigeria

[center]CHALLENGES OF FISH FARMING[/center]

1. Farmers in other livestock farming such as poultry and cattle rearing make extra income from the sale of byproducts such as (chicken eggs, cow dung) There are no byproducts in fish farming and this is seen as a major disadvantage by most farmers and investors.

2. Fishes are tender which makes them sensitive to even the slightest mistake which could result in their decline in growth or death.

3. Setting up fish farm is capital intensive, it is more expensive than building a poultry or snail farm. Building a fish pond requires meticulous planning and a good capital. A relatively small fish pond may require about N300,000 to setup, which of course is primarily attributed to the cost of constructing the pond and cost of labour. But if you can do all the construction work yourself, you may save a huge chunk of that. The capital though is nothing compared to the revenue, so long as you have clients to sell the fishes to.

4. Because of cost of production, fish grown from artificial ponds are usually more expensive than fish caught by fishermen from natural rivers. Therefore, if there are a lot of fishermen supplying fish to local markets, it will only make the competition stiffer. so for a farmer to have an edge over fishermen who catch fishes and offer them for sale at a cheaper price he needs to improvise and thread tactfully.

if you are interested in knowing how to start a fish farming business, read the full article here www.dipsentrepreneurship.com/start-fish-farming-business-nigeria-2016/

. Billy Farms

Types of fish ponds: https://www.practicalbusinessideas.com/types-of-fish-pond/