Fish farmers in Lagos lament low production of fingerlings

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday, the farmers said poor pond management and low quality of brood stock were the other factors retarding their business.

Quadri Raheem, Chairman, Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, Badagry chapter, said that adverse weather condition being experienced had hampered successful hatching.

Another fish farmer, George Obodo, who specialised in fingerlings production at Ijegun, said that he had been experiencing low production for the past 20 days.

He said that sometimes, the fish larvae would come out, but die after two weeks as they could not withstand the adverse weather.

Patrick Adewumi, another fish farmer in Isheri, said that he was forced to temporarily close down his farm, after incurring a loss of N25, 000.00 due to the unfavourable weather.

A female fish farmer at Idimu, Florence Okuwe, said that she was frustrated by the poor fingerlings production since rain stopped.

“I was producing about 30, 000 pieces of fingerlings every two month before the August break, but now, I barely produce two thousand pieces,” she said.

Another farmer, Supo Ogundele, at Ayobo area of Lagos, said that he had been experiencing unsuccessful hatching in the last three weeks.

“With the way things are going, I am afraid, Lagos will experience scarcity of catfish in the nearest future,” he predicted.

Alex Ubaru, another farmer, who specialised in rearing fingerlings to a moderate size, said that he used to stock about four thousand pieces of fingerlings every four month.

“But now, I can barely stock two thousand pieces as a result of the scarcity of fingerlings due to the harsh weather,” he lamented.

Suraju Lawal, the Sole Administrator, Able Mind Fish Farmers Association, Ijegun, said that many farmers exposed their hatcheries to unfavourable weather.

He advised farmers to situate their hatcheries in an enclosed place and adhere to the rules of pond management.