Catfish Farming Using Mobile Fish Tank{Home stead}

RECENT records of the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) indicate that Nigerians consume 1.5 million metric tons of fish worth $1 billion annually. Available statistics also has it that Nigeria’s total seafood imports in the year 2006 were estimated at $570 million (N75 billion).
Catfish farming is the leading fish farming industry in Nigeria and in the United States of America. In the United States, commercial production of table sized catfish totaled about 77 million pounds (about 35 million kg). In Nigeria, the production and consumption of catfish have been on the increase since 1976. Current demand for catfish stood at about 3 million metric tons per annum with current production of about 0.8 million metric tons leaving a deficit of about 2.2 million metric tons.
The wide supply-demand gap shows a lucrative investment opportunity in catfish farming in Nigeria. The consumption of catfish now in the country is very low because of the high cost of procurement and it is therefore reserved for the rich. Catfish consumption now in Nigeria is a delicacy unlike in the mid 1980’s when fish consumption is regarded as for those who could not afford to buy meat. Today, the present numbers of fish farmers are not enough to meet the daily demand of consumers. It is most certain that fish consumed in this country are mostly imported as frozen fish and those harvested from the seas. To stem the tide of increased importation of fish into the country, there is a need for increased investment in aquaculture.

The project
The project is the production of catfish using the mobile fish pond. Catfish is locally produced in Nigeria but with a high market price beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. This project has the intention of making catfish consumption popular among the poor masses. Catfish our local fish or rich in protein and healthier to consume then the imported frozen fish. The chemicals used in preserving the frozen fish has harmful effects to the body compared to the life catfish which you point and kill whenever you wish. This project will make people raise fish in their homes and eat them whenever they feel like. The mobile pond is the latest technology in fish production. It is portable, mobile and collapsible. It is a very simple and convenient fish production system. With the mobile fish pond, the farmer needs not own a landed property or lease one in order to start this business. A small space at the backyard is enough for this project take off. A tenant in a rented apartment can conveniently run this business using one of his rooms without damaging the landlord’s house. With this latest method of catfish production,  everyone can own a fish pond.

Production
There are two forms of production as follows:
Fingerlings production: this is the breeding of fish from eggs fry into fingerlings. It is highly technical because it involves the collection of sexually mature fish and its fertilized eggs for incubation and the managing of the hatched fry into fingerlings. This process needs total attention and care, and is therefore being carried out by specialist professionals.
Production of table size fish: this is the growing of fish to a table size for consumption from fingerlings stage.
This process is lucrative and less technical. So, the writer is recommending this method for a beginner farmer in this project.
The mobile fish pond is sold for N90,000. For a start, one mobile pond measuring 13ft x 13ft can be obtained. It can contain about 3,000 juvenile fishes, each fish costing N20. In the second month, another pond is obtained to separate the fishes which have grown to table size. The third month when the fishes are matured a third pond is obtained so that the fishes are separated among the three ponds according to their sizes in the manner of first shoot out, second shoot out and the third shoot out. While this is going on, another pond is acquired to start raising another set of juvenile fishes.

Feeding
The best way to manage a mobile fish pond is to use floating feed. These are feeds that when put in water, will float and not sink. With this, the fish could be monitored. To feed the fish, the feed is thrown into the water, the feed will float and the fishes are seen coming up to get the food. In the past, all floating feeds were imported and that is why catfish was so expensive to buy. But now, floating feeds can be produced locally with 100 per cent local raw materials. This feed is second to none in the fishery industry. It contains natural composition that stimulates and enhances the growth rate of fish.

Marketing/profitability
the high demand for fish which cannot be met by local production and import has pushed the market price of catfish beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians, coupled with the taste for fresh fish consumption. As such, catfish consumption in Nigeria remains the delicacy of the wealthy. Engaging in catfish farming in Nigeria is a gold mine that can guarantee 100 per cent return on investment with 90-150 days payback period.
Despite available local market for the product, great opportunities exist for export of the fish, and its product line, the floating fish feed. Target market for the fish include hotels and restaurants, pepper soup (point and kill) joints, live-fish sellers in market places, cold room operators, supermarket, boarding schools and other training institutions and private homes.

Product line
Aside the production of live catfish for consumption and sale, the farmer can engage in the commercial production of the floating feeds using local raw materials. The feed is produced using floating feed machine. The machine is the best technology used in the world for floating feed production. The machine cost N5 million and has the capacity of producing 500 kilos in one hour. The machine is imported with this machine there will be increased availability fish feed and reduced prices of cost of feeds thereby reducing the selling price of catfish in the market. The poor masses can therefore afford to buy and consume catfish for the all important protein requirement of the human body. The floating feed so produced will be sold to other fish farmers at competitive prices to imported feed.

                                                          

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