Background: The increase in human population and reports of large numbers of undernourished or starving people, especially in the developing countries, have made the need for food production a major worldwide issue of concern. There are three main groups of activities that contribute to food production: agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.
Also, the shift from meat to fish for health reasons has also increased the dependence on fishes for protein. Aside the above, one of the best short term investment for anyone who want to make money is the food industry and this is where fish farming becomes a very lucrative industry.
The population and demand for consumption far exceed the farmers of fish. Therefore there is always a market for this business.
How do you start fish farming:
In starting fish farming, you will need to consider various factors. This will range from how much you have to how big you want your farm to be. Cost of running the business and how you intend to market your catfish when they are ready for sale.
What Makes a Up a Fish Farming Business:
The complete component of a fish farming businesses are Fish, Water (70%), Housing or Pond, Feeds and then Management.
Species of Cat Fish: There are three types of Cat Fish.And what you do will depend on the specie you want to grow.
Claria Geriepinus : This
is the most lucrative specie. You can know this with its complete
dorsal fins from head to tail. This grows within three top four months
and ready for harvest. Anyone starting a lucrative fish farm and want to
harvest every three to four month should concentrate on this.
Heterobranchus: This is
different from the above with its dorsal fins breaking at the middle
into 50-50. It grows to full size ready for harvest between 8 to 12
months.
If you are looking at fast and lucrative fish farming business, you
will consider starting and professionalizing in the first specie
Hetero Clarias: This is with a dorsal fins of 90-10 with a little gap at the tail end of it. This grows ready for harvest between 8 to 10 months. It is not as lucrative as the first specie.
Therefore, for big profit, concentrate on Clarias Gariepnius because it is rugged, strong and more in quantity for a single pond too. Best of all its is easy to feed.
If you stock the wrong fish when buying, this will definitely kill your business. This is why some people have problems with their fish farming. If you are stocking and you buy a Heterobranchus(that will mature in 10 months) in the place of Clarias Gariepinus (which will mature in 3 to 4 months), you will have an expectation for a full grown fish in four months but unfortunately they will be very small since they will mature in 10 months. You should therefore ask from a place you are buying your fish if they are selling Clarias gariepinus or Branchus to you.
Costing: To start a fish farming business in Nigeria or Ghana, you require the following:
1. Plastic Pond: This pond is mobile. You can park it and set it up anywhere. You can set it up in your home, your land or your farm location. It is easy to start as you can set up this farm almost immediately. This is good for managing space. The cost of this is just N26,000 and it can last for 7 years.
2. Juveniles: Juveniles are two month old fishes. I would advise you do not buy fingerlings because of the death rate and fragility. Juveniles cost N20 or GHc0.20. If you are therefore stocking 500 Juveniles, you will be spending N10,000.
3. These fishes are expected to be fed with N100 or GHc10 from juvenile to maturity.
4. You can then market and sell your grown up fishes. One fish sells for N500 to the market women who sells these fishes for between N700 to N1000.
5. Increase your pond and stock and make more money from each.
In the next of this series, we will continue the discussion about running a successful catfish business.
No comments:
Post a Comment