Farm security:
Amidst several
things to consider in fish farming, security is very crucial. The farm/pond
needs to be secured from predation both from other animals and human. Basic
farm practice most times is always enough to protect the farm from predating
animals but definitely not enough to prevent human invasion.
The key factors
that guarantees security are the location of the farm, commitments of the
investor or farmer, and loyalty of the employees.
For starters,
being a part-time farmer is not enough. You must be present at regular interval
to see things yourself. Advisably, live very close to your farm.
The location of
the farm should not be out of sight to people who can always help you out in
times of trouble. If the pond is not in your compound then it must be located
close to other farmers. This will allow them keep an eye on your pond when you
are not around.
It is always a good idea to have a farm
assistant.
Pond water quality:
A close friend
of mine went into fish farming for the first time only to fall victim of pond
water quality close to the time of harvest. He had taken all necessary measures
to ensure good yield. And as a matter of fact, we were full of hope. Just some
few days to the cropping date, he discovered that the fish were dying. Believe
me, it wasn’t a good experience. After sorting out the dead fishes, he had to
temporarily put the remaining surviving fishes in a plastic pond with water
supplied from the well. He was shocked to discover that the fishes put in the
plastic which were initially weak and changing colors are already getting back
to normal. Later, another expert visited and proposed that water has been
either infected or the pH level was high.
It is advisable
to test your water before letting your fishes into water. Treat the water at
regular interval and allow the in flow of fresh water.
Sorting:
Sorting is one
practice that can enhance the profitability of fish farming especially here in
Nigeria where fish farming is not regulated.
Definitely, all
the fishes will not have the same growth rate. So it is observed that sorting
out the bigger ones is important after the first 3/4 months of feeding. You can
either sell them immediately or raise them for a longer time.
If you sort them
and sell them immediately, you would most likely have realized your capital and
the rest will be a plus for you. If you sort them and nurture separately, under
a normal condition, you will still make a very good profit.
It’s not compulsory
you have two ponds before you practice sorting, you can use plastic ponds too.
Motivation for investment:
It is possible
to invest in the right business for the wrong reasons. These wrong reasons
however create a very high and unrealistic expectation. Going into farming for
the purpose of raising funds for other things is very wrong and it put one
under unnecessary pressure. It must be noted that agriculture is a long term
business; it only pays over time if you have genuine interest in it.
Marketing Options
It is very
important to be very sure of where you intend to sell your product long before
you start raising them. Though demand for fish is high and most times you are
always a phone call away from sales. Options to consider include selling to middle
men, being the middleman yourself and processing (drying) before final sales.
It is also advisable for starters to mingle with trade associations around so
as to enjoy little incentives that may be available from government and also to
get a viable sales network.
