Mikky Catfish Farms and Production

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Catfish Farming in Nigeria: Cost of Raising 1,000 Fishes and Making Profits.

catfish feeding
Catfish farming in Nigeria can be a bit challenging but it can also be very profitable if you know what you’re doing.

Many of my readers have asked questions on how much to spend on raising certain number of catfishes. These readers want a clear idea of what it takes to go about catfish farming in Nigeria, and this article is written with them in mind. With that said, I can only prepare a viability report on catfish farming based on today’s economic reality in Nigeria. However, I will make my format simple in such a way that you can make use of it once you have data on prevailing market situation on prices of inputs and outputs of catfish production.

The figures and facts used in this article might not represent the economic situation in the next three months. This is due to the fact that prices of goods and services are not stable as a result of uncontrolled rate of inflation, and it is important to keep this in mind to ensure the profitability of your catfish farming efforts in Nigeria.

A thousand pieces of juvenile will be a good figure to work with. Intending and existing farmers can decide on how to raise their fishes to table size of at least one kilogram (1kg). This can be achieved either by feeding your stock with floating all-through or a combination of both floating and sinking feed. Sinking feed can be either ready-made or self-formulated. I believe regular followers of this blog can now formulate to suit the need of their stock per time.

That said, it is important to note that this article is written based on the idea that you are interested in african catfish farming (or raising of Clarias gariepinus).

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Fish Farm in Present Day Nigeria?
Of course, if you want to start a profitable catfish farm one of the first things you want to know is the cost involved in setting up the farm.

Let’s set the ball rolling by listing some of the expenses that will be incurred before, during and at the end of the production process. These expenses are:

Pond Rentage: There is a cost attached to whichever system you would like to use to raise your catfishes. Whether you own it outright or lease it, you must prepare your cost analysis with an acceptable rent value.

Pond Preparation: This involves clearing of bushes, de-mudding, liming and other corrections that must be done on the pond e.g. piping, construction of erosion channels, etc. You can read more in my article on pond preparation.
Netting: Setting of nets to prevent predator attack on your stock is an expense that must be included in your cost analysis table.Net your pond

Procurement of Juveniles: Standard cost of juvenile is applicable here. Whether it is self-bred or bought from breeders, a juvenile must not cost more than N30.

Feeds: This include cost of various sizes of conventional and non-conventional feeds.locally pelletized catfish feed

Cost of Feeding: If the owner is not always available, the farm attendant must be paid either in cash or in kind. Please endeavor to add this cost on your production.

Logistics Cost: This include all expenses on transportation of feed and manpower to the farm. It is better you carry your feed once in a month so as to reduce cost on logistics. However, it’s not always good to store your feed for too long a time. I will honestly recommend that you carry in feed once a week especially when you are dealing with local feed

Security: Cost of securing your pond is real especially when your ponds are not always under your watch. It is better to rent a pond where many ponds are situated to reduce the cost on security.

Routine Medication: This is optional, but you must prepare for the unexpected because it is possible you experience mortality in the cause of production. Read more in my article on cure for catfish mortality.

Cost of Cropping: This is another cost that should be included in your cost analysis whether you do it yourself or hire an expert.
Cost Analysis Table (Alternative A)
Combination of floating and sinking feed.

Detail of Expenditure Cost Value (Naira)
Pond rentage for six months (for 1,000 juveniles) 15,000
Pond preparation (applicable to earthen pond only) 10,000
Netting (including workmanship) 5,000
Procurement of juveniles (N25 each; between 6 and 10 grams) 25,000
Feeds (floating; I recommend 100 grams per fish. That’s approximately seven bags at 7,000 each) 44,000
Local feed (1,700kg at N280 per kg). Note: At conversion ratio of 1.4:1. 392,000
Cost of feeding (assume N2,000 monthly for five months) 10,000
Cost of logistics (assume N2,000 monthly for five months) 10,000
Security (assume N1,000 monthly for five months) 5,000
Cost of Medication (optional) 2,000
Cost of Cropping 4,000
TOTAL 522,000
Cost Analysis Table (Alternative B)
Floating Feed Only

Detail of Expenditure Cost Value (Naira)
Pond rentage for six months (for 1,000 juveniles) 15,000
Pond preparation (applicable to earthen pond only) 10,000
Netting (including workmanship) 5,000
Procurement of juveniles (N25 each; between 6 and 10 grams) 25,000
Feeds (floating all-through; 74 bags at conversion ratio of 1.2:1kg. A bag will cost N6,000) 444,000
Cost of feeding (assume N2,000 monthly for five months) 10,000
Cost of logistics (assume N2,000 monthly for five months) 10,000
Security (assume N1,000 monthly for five months) 5,000
Cost of medication (optional) 2,000
Cost of Cropping 4,000
TOTAL 530,000
Sales Analysis Table

Quantity Harvested (expected) Value (Naira)
1,080kg of fish (At the current rate of N600 per kg) 648,000
Total 648,000
Net Profit = Total Value of Sales – Total Cost of Production

For Alternative A: Net Profit = 648,000 – 522,000 = 126,000

For Alternative B: Net Profit = 648,000 – 530,000 = 118,000

Conclusion
The higher the quantity of catfish stocked, the better the profit expected. However, I would like to suggest that new Nigerian catfish farmers should start with a maximum of 1,000 pieces of catfish and later increase the scale. This will enable them to learn the rudiments of catfish farming while gradually working towards scalable profitability. Also, I would like to advocate, and I believe other farmers will join me, that a kg of fish should not be sold for less than N650.
(Money calculated as at 2020)

I’d also like to give this piece of advice to my readers: don’t quit, there are better days ahead.

It’s now 10% in 6 months

invest with mikky catfish farms and get back 30% of your investment within 3 to 6 months. A trial will surely convince you. Thank you.

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