‘ The demand for fish makes the business lucrative’
Fish farming has become an increasingly popular way of satisfying the ever growing fish demand in Nigeria. But questions have been raised about the sustainability of the practice and whether it is ecologicallyfriendly.
Fish farming, also known as aquaculture, is seen as a way of providing a means of livelihood for thousands of farmers and fishermen who have seen their businesses disappear. It is hoped that fish farming would help provide the protein needs of Third World populations through locally produced products.
Fish farms could be located not only along coastal areas but near inland rivers and lakes, wherever water can be accessed. The fish farms’ “fields” could be large tanks and artificial ponds as well as enclosures in natural settings such as rivers, lakes, seacoasts, or the open ocean.
As Women in Business takes a look at the fish farming business, the challenges that the farmers, sellers as well as buyers go through, A’isha Suleiman, a fish farmer, said the growing population has made the demand for fish products to rise considerably, adding that fish provides low-fat nutritious food sources and essential oils for people of all ages.
She said: The quantity surveyor who also holds an MBA said she stumbled into the business because she has passion for it. “I just developed interest in fish farming, so I decided to set it up and paid somebody to put me through the basics while he was taking care of my pond. You know it requires a lot of training.”
The Kogi State farmer said her farm, Ohiare Farm, which she started two years ago, has undergone changes to get to where it is presently.
“I needed to select the type of species I will be farming and also needed a place where there was flowing water like a river to set up the ponds because it is the major determinant for fish farming.
“Water quality is very essential in starting this business. If you do not have a source of flowing water, then, the fish will suffer and die on a daily bases,” she said.
She started the business with a capital of N380, 000 which could afford just 2,000 juveniles, but she recorded loss in the business.
She later became successful because she learnt from her mistakes and improved on them.
Mrs. Suleiman said the business is very lucrative, even though the profit one makes depends on so many factors.
“I supply to hotels, eateries and also smoke for some of my customers who place orders and sometimes my customers book the fish even before they are matured for sale,” she said.
On this page last week (March 27), we inadvertently used a photo taken at the Quintessential Business Women Executive meeting for a story titled, “Stakeholders lament slow take-off of CBN’s N220bn MSMEs fund”. The photo was meant to accompany a story titled “Group disburses N4bn to persons with disabilities” which was published on the same page. We regret the mix up.