GROW FISH AND GROW RICH

NIGERIANS CAN MAKE MILLIONS OF NAIRA IN FISH FARMING!!!

The history of fish consumption in this country is an interesting one. Fish consumption has graduated from a no man’s food poor man’s food and then a delicacy.

In the early and mid seventies, fish was regarded as ‘no man’s food. Towards the end of the 70s it graduated into ‘poor man’s food. Those who were used to eating fish up to the mid 80s were regarded as poor people who could not buy meat. With economic downturn information by global oil glut more people turned over to fish and today fish is regarded as a delicacy on the part of consumers.

Fish is known to contain higher percentage of protein than meat. It is also safer to consume fish since it is less likely to contain infestation that is common with meat e.g. Cow meat, Port, dog meat, goat meat, beef, suya etc. ‘according to the FAQ, fish contains as much as 60 percent fish class protein on a dry matter basis. Apart from its richness in vitamins, it also contains some quantities of calcium, phosphorus, fats and other nutrients needs for human growth and health. It is believed that fish is more nutritious than meat. In addition to these facts, it is free from cultural and religious taboos. This makes it to be a universal favourite, breaking all barriers- religion creed, culture, ethnicity, age grouping, colour etc. in terms of costs; it is cheaper to buy fish than meat. The situation affords the prospective investor the opportunity of raising fresh water fish for local and international markets.

Fish farming otherwise known as fish culture is a branch of aquaculture. It is different from fishing (catching or harvesting of fish in the wild water bodies) fish farming involves the domestication and rearing of different types of fish in ponds. It was evolved as an alternative means of making fish available to man since the quantity and quality of fish in the world water has been compromised by over fishing, ever increasing human population and incessant water pollution among many other factors, which has made fishing a very difficult and expensive task and fish farming imperative.

Fish farming consists of two major subdivisions, which could either be operated separately or as an integrated process. The two subdivisions are the nursery and the grow-out pond operations. The nursery operation is the basis for the grow-out operation and as such it cannot be operated without the nursery.

The nursery operations involves the inducement of the female fish in order to lay eggs, which are then fertilized, incubated and hatched there after. The newly hatched fish are known as fries. These fries are then nurtured for between three and four weeks into fingerlings which is the size suitable for use in the fish grow-out operations.

In-between the nursery and the grow-out operations is what the purpose of this awareness referred to as the primary operations. It involves the nurturing of the three or four weeks old fingerlings for between another one to ten weeks within which they could grow into post-fingerlings, mini-juveniles and juveniles respectively. These can then be nurtured for between four to five months into grow-out or table size fish suitable for sale and consumption.
When you think about becoming wealthy, you probably think of a high-paying job, a high yielding investment portfolio or a partnership to launch a product or service that will roll in millions. But what assurance do you have on getting adequate funds and market for these services or product?

Have you ever wondered why the government and the private sector are placing more emphasis on small business opportunities and financing in the country today? One of the most profitable businesses in Nigeria today is fish farming business. Next to the communication sector of the Nigeria economy, Fish farming is the second fastest growing industry with profits upward of over 500% in fingerlings production and over 200% in table size fish production.

Fish farming is turning many heads. It is a business that can be done by the young and old; by retirees or actively serving people; by the rich or moderately rich; by the educated or uneducated members of the society. If you want to be your own boss and you are ready to work hard and get rich, fish farming is for you.

To further assure potential farmers, that cultivation of fish is a profitable business in Nigeria. Fish is in high demand due to its good taste, high protein content, medicinal characteristics and its appeal and various relaxation’ joints; more interestingly, parties’ (only special guest enjoyed this) because of the high price, thus the market potential is great. The aim of fish farming is to breed a fish to one kilogram body weight or more in the shortest possible time, usually between four and five months if properly done and to have the barest minimum mortality. One gets more profit if one operates a market outlet to cut off shylock middlemen. I can assure prospective farmers that the profit expected from fish sale from experience is about 40 to 50 percent above what was invested.

Going into fish farming involves the followings:

Step One: Planning
Here, one has to determine, whether one wants to go into a big or small-scale commercial venture. Secondly, the pond system to adopt, whether flow-through system, recirvulatory system, earthen pond or concrete pond or both.

Step Two: Land
This is very important. One has to acquire at least half plot of land in a suitable location. This means, you must consider good access road, closeness to market and labour. If land is already a available, it is good. Then we apportion it as follows: one: location of ponds. Two: location of farm house. Three: location of water supply and lastly, location of drainage facility. The last point is very important, as you don’t drain your water to constitute public nuisance.

Step Three: Water Supply Source
The best water for fish farming is from bore hole. One or two must be sunk to guarantee steady water supply. Overhead tanks for holding water should also be installed. The mechanism of pumping of water must back up facility. The system must not fail.

Step Four: Pond Construction
It is advisable to engage the service of a consultant. The success or failure of this project depends largely on construction of standard ponds that can stand the test of time. Common cause of failure in fish farming is as follows: over stocking, poor quality feed, water pollution and bad specie of fish fingerlings. Our organization, JOVANA FARMS is expert in t his area. If you don’t have substantial capital we know how you can improvise.
Nigeria’s economic recovery programmes have necessitated a radical shift from dependence on government for job to self employment. One such attractive area for self employment is fish farming. It is great money-spinning business that can provide a substantial source of protein to complement Nigeria carbohydrate meals.

Her are the detailed advantages of fish farming:
1. They can easily be farmed at the family backyard
2. Fish do not compete with man for food
3. Cost of medication is very negligible in fish farming and it is a good poverty alleviation activity to stem rural – urban migration
4. The business of producing, processing, transporting, storing, financing and servicing fish products should give employment to many people
5. Rearing of fish for local consumption will decrease importation of frozen fish, chicken and turkey into the country and producing fish for export will greatly enhance the conomic potential. It will firm up the Naira, improve the GDP, reduce both inflation and create more jobs for Nigerians. Over a million jobs can be created in fish industry alone.

Our Organisation also renders general consultancy services for the followings:
Construction of modern fish pond, Suppliers of fast growing fish fingerlings and juveniles, Suppliers of importers and local fish feed and equipments. We can help you to raise a bid or small backyard fish farm anywhere in Nigeria.

Why we embark on this awareness creation.
1. To show people how to make money through fish farming
2. To direct employees on how to augment their income without affecting their present job
3. To create employment for both skilled and unskilled people thereby helping to reduce the
current high level of crime/unemployment in the society
4. To share what we know, practice and have worked successfully for us with other Nigerians
5. To help Nigerians by empowering the unemployed graduates, school leavers and income seeking
people to develop entrepreneurial skills towards self-reliance.
6. To contribute to the Nation’s efforts in attaining food security.

Personally, I found out that, our academic curricular is not structured to make us business conscious that is why people don’t understand the concept of private enterprise. After school, to pick up business ideas becomes very difficult, this is the reason many people are unemployed. While in school, they believe that the job is waiting for them.

It is no more like that today, you have to create job for yourself and others.