How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business

Onoshi June 27, 2017 No Comments

How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business
How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business; Fish is a very healthy and nutritious protein which is popular around the world. Industrial fish farming business, or aquaculture, provides almost half the seafood around the world and this is expected to increase.



How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business

Fish is a delicious and nutritious protein source that is also rich in nutrients like omega-3 Fatty acids that improve our heart health and lowers our blood cholesterol level. Farmed fish has been playing an important role in meeting global protein demands.

If you think that fish farming is all about going to the nearest pond or a river and catching it with a fishing rod, then you could not be more wrong. Nigerians love fish and no wonder given how much access they have to places where fish grows. That is why more and more people opt to turn occasional fishing trips into a steady-growing business.

According to wikipedia, “Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants”. While Aquaculture covers multiple facets, fish farming is the most common in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.

Fish farming is a profitable business that’s widespread across various parts of Nigeria. The insatiable demand for fishery products like Tilapia, Catfish, and Mackerel (Salmon) in Nigeria has constantly self-promoted the steady growth and expansion of the industry. These factors, coupled with the current support of institutions, the Nigerian government, and several other African countries to promote agriculture and also support fish farmers, makes the industry one of the most lucrative agricultural business segments to venture into.

Fish farming business consists of two major subdivisions, which could either be operated separately or as an integrated process. The two subdivisions are the nursery and the grow-out pond operation. The nursery operation is the basis for the grow-out operation and as such it cannot be operated without the nursery.

The nursery involves the inducement of the female fish to lay eggs, which are then fertilized, incubated and hatched fish are known as fries. These fries are then nurtured fro between three and four weeks into fingerlings which is the size suitable for use in the fish grow-out operation.

In-between the nursery and grow-out operation is what the purpose of this manual referred to as the primary operation. It involves the nurturing of the three or four weeks within which they could grow into post fingerlings, mini juveniles and juveniles respectively. These can then be nurtured for between four to five month into grow-out or table size fish suitable for sale and consumption.



How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business

Types of Fish You Can Farm

Haven seen the benefits as well as the risks involved in fish farming, let’s now proceed to decide which specie of fish we want to farm. Below are some of the most popular fish species that is suitable for Aquaculture.

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.
Tilapia– This aquaculture business is run with freshwater fishes inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes. These Tilapias are the second most popular fishes used in Nigerian meals. They’re of increasing importance in aquaculture all over the world. The fact that these fishes grow rapidly and tolerate high stocking densities and poor water quality, makes them a lucrative breed for fish farmers to grow.
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 species be cultivated artificially? Only time will tell but for now, you have to focus your attention to Catfish and Tilapia.


How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business

How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business



Things to Consider in Starting Fish Farming Business
1. Fish farming business plan

2. Good Knowledge of fish farming

3. Your market analysis

4. Land size intended for use

5. Where the fish farm will be located

6. Pond planning, type, design, size, and construction

7. Cost and source of water

8. Fish feed, medication and supplements

9. Storage system

10. Viability of fish farming business in your location

11. Knowledge and preparation for risks



Things to Consider in Starting Fish Farming Business

A. Fish farming business plan

If you are really serious about setting up a catfish farm, then you should invest in writing a business plan. This is very important as it helps you prepare and execute your growth strategies properly. Secondly, you need a business plan for your fish farm if you intend to raise capital, or secure a loan from the bank for your fish farm.

Lastly, you will need a business plan to access the various funds and support line established by the government and other institution. So start writing your business plan today. You can seek the services of an agriculture business consultant if you need help computing the financial estimates and projections.



B. Good Knowledge of fish farming

To start your own in the aquaculture fish industry, you must first learn all about fish farming. Learning about fish farms will prepare you to make educated decisions. Visit some of the fish farms in your area or meet with people just like you who have entered the fish industry. The internet is vast source of knowledge. You could find all about aquaculture and fish farming from websites on the internet. Consider signing up for classes visit webinars and such, if you can, to gather more information about the business. Every business has its own challenge, and you should do whatever it takes to gain firsthand knowledge about the business. Taking a part time job at a local fishery might also give you hands on experience.



C. Your market analysis

. Who are your buyers?

What are their needs?
What are the things they crave for?
What’s your market demand?
What are the things that keep them awake at night?
It is your duty to identify and answer these questions. You need this information to make it BIG! If you can provide solution to them, you won’t have any problem. You must tailor your production to meet your market requirements.



D. Land size intended for use

Before going into the catfish farming business, you need to acquire or lease at least a full or half plot of land in a good location. The land should also be accessible by road. This is important as you would want your potential customers to experience difficulty while trying to locate your farm to buy your produce.

As soon as the land is available, you can start allocating for each task. There should also be a decent space for the farm house ponds, and a good location for drainage facility.



E. Where the fish farm will be located

Any location is good since fish doesn’t cause any environmental disturbance. Look for land where you can get it cheap and buy. Depending on the capacity you wants to operate on, half plot of land is just good enough for average fish farm.

However, you may go for something bigger like full plot or two if you can afford it probably for convenience sake. If you already have a compound with leftover space you thing can accommodate two or three ponds, you may use it.

How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business



F. Pond planning, type, design, size, and construction

I compared water with oxygen in my above analogy. Here, I’m talking about housing your fish.

Just like you, they need a comfortable place to live.

The more natural and comfortable their pond is, the better for them.

There are two popular fish housing system… backyard plastic tank or pond.

Plastic tank may be good for you if you`re just starting fish farming in Nigeria.

This small scale medium will help you to be familiar with the nature of the fishery business, before you`ll extend your market reach.

Fish pond sizes are also different.

Fish ponds are of various sizes and their cost is vary, depending on your environment and need.

What should you do?

Move out. Visit fish farms around you. Visit fish feeds seller. Visit some experienced break-layers. Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask questions.

The reason why I advise you to go out this way is because, these people will give you the best advice that can be useful to you in that environment, since they are in your vicinity.

No matter how much advice I give you here or you read on the internet can be as accurate as that of someone who is living and having fish farm right in your neighborhood.

I`m sure you understand this.’

After we have provided oxygen and house for our dear fish, what next?



Pond preparation for stocking
The procedure below should be followed by the farmer to the latter when preparing the pond for stocking. These steps will help boost the productivity of the pond.

For an old pond, drain all water and allow it to dry for 14 days.
Apply lime to the pond bottom and dyke slopes. Choose agricultural limestone (CaCO3) for application in your fishpond
Apply organic fertiliser in the pond before filling it with water. The most common examples of organic fertilisers are animal manures (from cattle, poultry, donkeys, rabbits, sheep and goats) and decaying plant matter, such as cut grasses.
Fill the pond with water.
Apply inorganic fertiliser in the pond after it has been filled. Apply DAP and UREA to your fishpond at the following rates: wwDAP: 2 g/m2/week (or weekly applications of 15 tablespoons DAP for every 100 m2) wwUREA: 3 g/m2/week (or weekly applications of 30 tablespoons urea for every 100 m2).
G. Cost and source of water

The source of water supply to the fish ponds is important to proper development and maturity of your fish farm for commercial use. It’s important to have a proper borehole system built in the vicinity to ensure a reliable source of water supply. This gets even more crucial with the fact that the water would have to be changed on a regular interval, and a lack therein, of proper adequate water supply to ensure the survival of these fishes, would lead to a considerable loss in investments.

You must know that rainwater and chemically treated water are totally out of the fish farming process. They’re unsafe for the fishes, and cannot be recommended for standard use.

Get a steady flow of fresh water, so your pond can thrive.

How to Start and Succeed in Fish Farming Business





H. Fish feed, medication and supplements

There are various feeds that can be offered to the fish in the pond. Some commonly available feeds include:

— Meals

— Crumble

— Dry sinking pellets

— Moist sinking pellets

— Floating pellets

The feeds can be formulated so as to meet the body requirements of the fish species. This can be done as follows:

Cotton seed cake— 37%
Wheat bran— 57%
iii. Fresh shrimp— 6%

Vitamin premix
Feed ingredients can be hand ground or a manual grinder can be used. It’s important to adhere to the four fixes (4Fs) when feeding fish. These are:

Fixed feed quality.
Fixed feed quantity.
Fixed feeding location.
Fixed feeding time.
There are three means of food for your fish.

Natural food. This is found naturally in the pond. This include; detritus, bacteria, plankton, worms, insects, snails, aquatic plants and fish (yes, fish eat fish if they`re hungry).
Supplementary feed. This usually include cheap materials locally available such as terrestrial plants, kitchen wastes or agricultural by-products. Supplementary feed may be good, but they are not for serious fish farmer (except if he includes the other types of feeds). Many people who are into fish farming in Nigeria are using supplementary feeds. some to their profit, others to their loss.
Complete feed. This is a carefully made fish feed. They`re usually of good ingredient and nutrients, made by the experts who understand the perfect formula for the fish at a different stage.
The fish should be fed between 10am and 4pm when the water temperatures and dissolved oxygen content are reasonably high and the fish are active.


For more details, check out the source

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