We have read many articles on the internet on how to start fish farming in Nigeria, especially catfish farming, but few are detailed enough to really assist an aspiring fish farmer to get started. I squeezed my time to make this article as detailed as possible and hope that other experienced fish farmers and those willing to start a fish farm business will benefit from it.
The fish farming business is one of the most lucrative and profitable agribusinesses in Nigeria. Gone are the days when the only way of getting fish is by catching it in the local rivers using hooks and fishing nets. Today, the modern fish farm practice has made it possible to raise fish in the farms and control the input.
Fish farming is very profitable. With good planning and proper management, N3 million investment in fish farming could easily result in N4 million of pure profit within six months.
Here are steps on how to start a profitable fish farming business in Nigeria:
1) Secure a Land. Fish are generally friendly to the environment. So, just look for cheap land and buy it. The size of the land depends on, largely, the capacity you want to operate. For an average fish farm, half a plot of land will be okay.
2) Construct Ponds. There are different types of fish ponds. It can be a concrete fish pond or earthen pond. Each type of pond has its advantages and disadvantages, but fish grow faster in an earthen pond than in a concrete pond and are often more palatable.
3) Dig a Borehole. Lack of water in a fish farm may result in disaster. So, adequate water must be available, and to achieve this, there is a need to dig a borehole. Naturally available sources of water such as river water and borehole are the most suitable. Rainwater and tap water from a chemically treated source is not recommended for growing fish.
4) Install Overhead Tank. An overhead tank is the water store or reservoir from which water is supplied to the fish ponds. The Overhead tank must be properly connected to the ponds through the plumbing system to make it easy for water to move into the ponds when needed.
5) Get Juvenile Fish. Juveniles are small fishes about the size of a finger. You should get your juvenile from another farm that specializes in supplying it. You are required to go for the high-yield species of catfish or tilapia fish and make sure you are getting it from a healthy farm.
6) Get Training. You should remember that your investment is at stake, trial and error are not good in the fish farm business except you have unlimited funds to experiment with. You need to be trained and experienced in fish farming.
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