OUR FIGHT AGAINST STARVATION (2)

OUR FIGHT AGAINST STARVATION (2)

PREAMBLE:. Beloved, aquaculture and fish farming is the fastest growing food production industry in the world and also plays an important part in delivering high quality proteins to the Nigerian market.

For making more profits in the fish farming business in Nigeria, fish farmers need to cut down feed cost because it occupies a great part in the production chain. This cost-cutting however should only be on the basis of ensuring that fish can get nutritional feed for good health and growth.

CHALLENGES FACED BY FISH FEED MILLERS.

The same challenges highlighted for poultry feed apply to fishfeed as maize and soya beans contribute a very high percentage of the cost of production. 

The climate change in August when we witnessed a dearth of rainfall for about 9 weeks affected the growth of late maize. The flooding of the farms in the Northern part's of the country also took its toll. The continuous increase in foreign exchange value also had an adverse effect on the cost of imported Vitamins and Minerals used in production. The resultant effect is that the cost per bag of fishfeed went up two to three times within a few weeks.

CHALLENGES FACED BY FISH FARMERS

The lowering of feed cost which is the main cost factor in aquaculture has great significance and value in stimulating the development of aquaculture.

At earlier stages of development, imported fishfeed are preferred due to their high protein-content.  However, due to the high price and unstable supply, imported fishfeed have restricted the development of Nigerian fish farming. A focus on the environment and economy requires the use of local feed ingredients to produce nutritional and healthy fishfeed through fishfeed *extruders and other equipment,thus reducing feed cost as well as creating an effective value-chain, thereby elevating the whole aquaculture industrial chain. 

Another challenge faced by fish farmers is that the rise in cost of fishfeed is not accmpanied by a corresponding rise in the price per kilo of fish.

AN OVERVIEW

Integrated fish farming has been reported across the various states in Nigeria in which 50% of fish farmers combined poultry, piggery or livestock with fish production, while integrated fish cum crop production is also on the rise in several States. The form of integration depends on the prevalent environmental conditions cultural values, religious factors and social norms. 

For example,in the Northern part of Nigeria, fish cum pig integration is not advisable because of religious bias towards consumption of pork. Fish cum Rice combination therefore  becomes the common practice while the Southern part of Nigeria is found to be more accommodating and prolific with the combination of fish, poultry and pig with vegetables as the major crop 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

In addition to our earlier reccomendations, there is a need for our Meteorological Services to be provided with state of the art equipment which will help to make accurate weather forecasts that will prepare our farmers for unexpected climate change.

Farmers should also engage in result-oriented farming in order for the country to be self-sufficient as this is the only way to guarantee and sustain adequate food security in an environmentally friendly manner. 

The victory in Our Fight Against Starvation depends solely on the dexterity of our farmers. 

Shalom

God Bless Nigeria

God Bless Africa

God Bless Humanity

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Very Truly Yours

Elder (Evan) Ayodeji Ogunjobi (Deja Vu)

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