Boosting local fish production for wealth creation

That Nigeria spends a whopping $700million or N220.325 billion on the annual importation of all manner of fish species into the country, is to say the least, scandalous! With a total water area of 910,768 sq km consisting of inland water made up of major rivers, lakes and reservoirs put at about at 1,300 hectares(ha) and some 200 species of fish, God has given us more than enough to be self sufficient in fish production.
But as it has been shown in sub-sectors of the economy such as oil and gas, agriculture and solid minerals we continue to import the raw and finished products of what we are abundantly blessed with.
This damning scenario must have informed the federal government’s decision to ban fish import. That was in 2016. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh disclosed this during a courtesy visit by Triton Aqua Ltd. He, however, hinted that more funds would be provided to the research institutes to scale up research work into the local production of other fish species, aside the regular catfish and tilapia. Young graduates would also be trained in modern aquaculture. One only hopes that the government will walk the talk.
It would be recalled that during the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, a bold decision was taken to improve the local production of fish, by exploring deep sea resources from the then 50 m deep to 200m deep as well as place a ban on fish importation. According to the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria cannot hope to grow its economy while developing that of others through massive importation. He made this statement during a visit to the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).
It is indeed, sad to note that as at 2008, Nigeria was ranked as the world’s largest importer of fish! By 2010 the country was spending a whopping sum of over N100 billion on importations of 780,000 metric tonnes of frozen fish from Europe, Latin America and Eastern countries, according to Adesina. Now, the import figure has more than doubled! While the annual fish demand stands at about 2.66 million metric tonnes (mmt) the domestic production stands at a paltry 0.78 mmt, giving a shortfall of 1.8 mmt. Yet, we have the capacity to produce over 4.0 mmt annually which could effectively meet local demand. The truth, however, is that the annual per-capita fish consumption is about 7.5kilogrammes as against 15kg/annum as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Furthermore, Adesina had charged the egg heads at the institute to re-strategise their operations so as to get to the level of exporting cultured shrimps. As at 2010 the Federal Government had committed 50 per cent of the cost of the building 36.3 LOA Oceanography and fisheries deep sea vessels for the purpose of exploring deep sea resources.
The benefits derivable from improved aquaculture are enormous. First, fish is a rich source of heart-friendly protein, calcium, potassium, Vitamin-B group and essential minerals and in some instances omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Its economic potentials for investors to create employment and make reasonable profit are not in doubt.

Investment in catfish business

Research findings in 2011 revealed that there has been more than N40 billion investment in fish farming in Nigeria over the past five years. According to Femi Lawrence, a graduate of the University of Ibadan with degree in Fisheries Management, “fish business is very lucrative”. The major areas of fish farming being currently exploited by Nigerians are catfish fingerlings production (hatchery), raising fingerlings or juveniles from the size of fingers to table size (adult) within a period of four to six months.
On his part the now famous Arinze Onebunwe, CEO of Jovana Farms catfish production consists of two major parts-the nursery and grow-out operations. The nursery starts with the inducement of the female fish to lay eggs which are fertilized, incubated and hatched. These are known as fries which are nurtured from between three to four weeks into fingerlings and readying for growing out. Before then there is the growing into post-fingerlings, mini- juveniles and juveniles. It takes a further six months to get them into the size ready for market.
While Lawrence insists that with N100,000 one could start catfish farming Adedeji Abiodun another consultant says it could go higher to N200,000.Onebunwe says a new investor should identify the pond system, even before acquisition of land. The location of such pond, should have access to road, water supply and of course, the drainage system.

The way forward

What is needed to lift fish business to the next level include availability of micro-credit schemes, stable infrastructure of sustained power supply (for cold storage), potable water and good access roads. Besides, there should be mass public enlightenment, short-term training programmes; seminars and workshops for those interested in going into the business. Government should also make the input to subsidise the input of feeds, which, according to the MD/CEO of the NIOMR, Dr. Akande accounts for 75 per cent of overhead costs.
This is because, as a cheap form of business, with low risks and high returns on investment fresh graduates could go into it instead of pounding the city streets in search of non-existent white-collared jobs.
As focus is being shifted to deep sea fishing, efforts must be stepped up to combat the nefarious activities of sea pirates, especially from neigbouring countries. More Nigerians should be empowered to go into the use of expensive trawlers.
According to the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FSN) investment in fish farming, especially that of catfish has since risen from N23 billion between 2001 and 2006 to over N40 billion in 2011. There is little doubt that the huge potential in fish business could become a veritable money-spinner, instead of the current over dependence on crude oil business. Honestly, Nigeria is richly blessed in virtually all the sub-sectors of the economy, if only we could get our acts together, with the leaders identifying how to connect the potentials with the productive energy of the citizens.

 

Ayo Oyoze Baje