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How to Start-up a CAT FISH Business in Nigeria

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A catfish farming is a major investment operation that involves careful considerations. Catfish farming has two forms: Nursery Fish farming and the Grown Out Fish Farming. These two can be operated separately or together.

The Nursery Catfish Farming:
This involves the inducement of the female fish to lay eggs, which are then fertilized, incubated and hatched. Those little fishes are regarded as fries. The fries are then nurtured into fingerlings in a space of three to four weeks. The fingerlings is the suitable size for use in the Grown Out catfish farming.

The Grown out Catfish Farming:
This is dependent on the nursery fish farming because it is impossible to grow fish without the nursery.

In between the nursery and grow out operation is what we referred to as the primary operation. It involves the nurturing of the three or four weeks within which they could grow into post fingerlings, mini juveniles and juveniles respectively. These can then be nurtured for between four to five month into grow out or table size fish suitable for sale and consumption.

Steps to Follow When Starting Catfish Farming.
The following are the important steps you need to take when ready to start catfish farming:

Step 1: Secure a Land

This is the very first step in starting this business. You need to acquire at least half plot of land in a suitable location. In choosing the location, you need to put into consideration access to good road, closeness to market and labor. Once you acquire the land, you need to apportion spaces for the following:

#1 The ponds
#2 The farm house
#3 Water supply
#4 Drainage facility

Step 2: Map out a Plan.

You need to determine whether you want to go into small or big scale commercial catfish farming.
Also determine the pond system to adopt; Re-circulatory system, Earthen pond or Concrete/plastic pond or both.

Once the pond has been dug and the farm area has been developed, your money can’t be refund. Hence, you need to extensively evaluate before you invest your money.

Where should the pond be located? Does the site have adequate supply of quality water?
There are minimum water flow rate requirements in building a pond for a catfish. Will the source meet them? Employ professionals to test whether the water supply volume and flow rate meets standard requirement.
Is the water supply suitable for catfish farming? Try growing a few catfish using water taken from the target source.
Is the area suitable for pond construction in terms of soil composition and permeability? Ideal soil for pond construction is one with good compaction property.
Catfish farming will require some water movement.
Will you be able to obtain permits and other necessary licenses for the operation?

Step 3: Determine Source of Water Supply

The best water for catfish farming is from a bore hole. One or two must be dug to guarantee steady water supply. You should also install water tanks to store water. The mechanism of pumping of water must be a back up facility which must not fail.

Step 4: Construction of the Pond

The success or failure of this project depends greatly on the construction of standard ponds that can stand the test of time. If you are unclear about certain things, you can consult a more experienced fellow in the farming business.

Take Note
A major consideration in designing a pond for catfish farming is the flatness or steepness of the area and the source of water supply.

For a generally flat area that has access to a well, a level pond could be built. Watershed ponds are built for steeper areas near a natural source of water.

The depth of the fish pond is also crucial as this greatly influence the availability of oxygen for the fish, likewise the amount of fish per surface acre of water.