IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CATFISH FARMING

IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CATFISH FARMING:

 Land To Use

This is very important. One has to acquire at least half plot of land in a suitable location. This means, you must consider good access road, closeness to market and labor. If the land is already available, it is good. Then we apportion it as follows:

1. Location of ponds
2.  Location of farm house
3.  Location of water supply and lastly, location of drainage facility.

 Pond Planning

You have to determine whether you wants to go into a big or small-scale commercial venture, secondly, the pond system to adopt, Re-circulatory system, earthen pond or concrete/plastic pond or both have to be considered. Once the pond the pond is already developed, there is nothing you can do to undo the work and recover the cost. And so, extensive evaluation must be done by someone planning to start a catfish farm before he finally decides whether it is wise for him to pursue the project.

Construction Considerations

• You have to consider the location of the pond site, supply of quality water (from wells or springs), 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 requirements.
• You have to consider if the water supply suitable for catfish farming, Try growing a few catfish using water taken from the target source.
• You have to consider if the area suitable for pond construction in terms of soil composition and permeability, Ideal soil for pond construction is one with good compaction property. One resource you can run to check on this is your local soil management office.
• Catfish farming will require some water movement. Will you be able to obtain permits and other necessary licenses for the operation?

 Water Supply Source

The best water for catfish farming is from bore hole. One or two must be sunk to guarantee steady water supply. Overhead tanks for holding water should also be installed. The mechanism of pumping of water must be back up facility. The system must not fail.

 Pond Construction

It is advisable to engage the service of a consultant. The success or failure of this project depends largely on construction of standard ponds that can stand the test of time.

Pond Design and Construction

 

One major consideration in designing a pond for catfish production 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 levee pond could be built. Watershed ponds are built for steeper areas near a natural source of water.

The depth of the pond is also crucial as this influences the availability of oxygen for the fish. And so is the amount of fish per surface acre of water. Check catfish growing manuals for standards to adhere to.

For one to get the most profit for a catfish harvest, it is necessary to determine buyer requirements when planning the season’s production. Consider what buyers demand in terms of weight, frequency, size and price. One can sell the season’s harvest to fish processors or directly to consumer. The latter results a greater return to the farmer.

BASIC REQUIREMENT TO START CATFISH FARMING:

• Land : land is a very important factor when considering catfish farming. you need  a plot or half plot of land in a suitable environment to start catfish farming.

• Water (bore hole) : source of water is very important when considering catfish farming, there must be a source of water close to where you want to locate the catfish pond. Bore hole is the best source of water when considering catfish farming.

•  capital (50,000 to 150,000 thousand naira) :you need money to keep up recurrent expenditure e.g fish feed

• Store  house : you need a store house to store all your catfish feed.

• Pond construction : this section is left for professionals who build ponds.

TYPES OF PONDS:

• earth pond
• concrete pond
• plastic tank pond
• drums pond

Earth pond:

This is a type of catfish pond that is done on the grand, it is mostly dug in a water log area so that the will not dry up even in the dry season. These area must not be highly polluted because these fish is highly sensitive to pollution and pollution can affect the growth of the fish or even kill the fish, so iit is advisable to locate your earth pond in an area very conducive for proper growth of the catfish.

 Earth pond

Concrete pond:

These type of pond is constructed using concrete. After constructing this concrete pond, you have to leave it for some time so that the concentration of the raw cement will wash of before putting the fish. To treat this pond and prepare it for the fish, you have to pour water into the pond and place sacks of poultry waste inside the pond for up to two or three weeks pour some little gasoline into it to kill the mosquito and some fungi.

  concrete ponds

Plastic tanks:

Some people use plastic tanks to train their catfish.

           Drum pond:

Some use drum to train their catfish.

Note: before going into catfish farming, you either buy catfish fingerlings producers or go into hatchery of catfish fries and I believe going into fries hatchery will be more profitable.




As the years go by, boys will become men and ideals will become industries, but seed not planted today will never be harvest

the fact that you have very little resource to start does not mean there will be no bumper harvest tomorrow. nothing in life gets moving until you make a move, so give a start and invest in agriculture today, you will see success follows