Estimate cost of growing 500 kilogrammes of catfish in Lagos, Nigeria for August – December, 2019

These are 8 weeks old juvenile catfish enjoying fresh water at Divine Fish Farm and Gardens. We intend to grow these fish for another 12 weeks (3 months) by which time they should average 500 grammes (g) per fish. At that size they will be ready for processing, i.e. smoking and drying.

These are 8 weeks old juvenile catfish enjoying fresh water at Divine Fish Farm and Gardens. We intend to grow these fish for another 12 weeks (3 months) by which time they should average 500 grammes (g) per fish. At that size they will be ready for processing, i.e. smoking and drying.

Here is a budget estimate for growing these fish.

The catfish in this pond number 1000 pieces. They will have an estimate total mass of 500 kilogrammes (kg) after 3 months. They will consume about 35 bags (15kg per bag) of extruded catfish feed at an estimate total cost of two hundred and forty-five thousand naira (N245,000).

The cost of hatching catfish fries and growing them through fingerlings to 1000 juveniles after 8 weeks is N35,000.

The operational costs of growing the fish is N55,000. The total estimate cost of growing the 1000 fish in this pond to 500 kg is N335,000.

Given this outlay at what price should the catfish be sold to recoup the investment? Remember that the farmer cannot ignore the market price of fish in deciding the price at which he or she will sell his or her fish. How much control does the farmer have over the price at which he/she sells his/her product? To which market should the farmer sell his/her product? Can the farmer take advantage of producing at scale to reduce unit cost of growing fish? How close is the farmer to his market?

The questions above are what every fish farmer should ask at the beginning of every fish farming cycle. A fish farmer should do his budget estimate at the beginning of every fish farming cycle. Intending fish farmers should also do this exercise so as to determine if the venture would be worthwhile.

Sadly, many catfish farmers in Nigeria do not do a budget analysis before engaging in the business of catfish farming and it often leads to unintended consequences. I will end with a tabulated estimate of growing 1000 catfish to an average mass of 500 grammes per fish.

Estimate cost of growing 500 kilogrammes of catfish in Lagos, Nigeria for August – December, 2019

SN

Item

Cost (N)

1

1000 pieces of juveniles

35,000

2

500 kg of extruded catfish feed

245,000

3

Operational costs

55,000

 

Total Cost

335,000

Sincerely,

Ugochukwu Ukwuegbu

Divine Fish Farms and Gardens

info@divinefish.com.ng, +2348077776861

www.DivineFish.com.ng

6 Reasons Onions Should Be Part Of Your Everyday Meal

Onions are important vegetables used almost every day, especially, for cooking. It falls in the category of allium vegetables which include garlic, leek to mention a few. However, onions have so many health benefits and below are some.

May Help Reduce Cancer Risk

Onion contains properties such as sulphur compounds and flavonoid antioxidants found in allium vegetables which are capable of reducing cancer and other related ailments. These vegetables decrease tumour development and slow the spread of ovarian and lung cancer. Also, research shows that consuming fresh yellow onion helped lessen insulin resistance and hyper-glycemia in breast cancer patients undergoing a form of chemotherapy known to cause insulin resistance.

Sliced onions
Sliced onions

Aids Digestion

Onions also aid digestion, it contains a special type of soluble fibre called oligofructose, which promotes good bacteria growth in the intestines; this helps digestion and at the same time, prevents and treats all forms of diarrhoea. This fibre also reduces the chances of developing gastric ulcer.

Eases Respiration

The anti-inflammatory properties of onions can help soothe respiratory ailments. According to medical practitioners, patients with a respiratory disorder like asthma and allergic rhinitis should include onions in their diet.

Improves Eyesight

Onions have the capacity to stimulate the production of a protein named glutathione, which acts as an antioxidant. This reduces the risk of glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataract. Also, the selenium in onion helps to increase the Vitamin E found in the eye.

Banga (akwu) and other ingredients
Banga (akwu) and other ingredients

Fertility Booster

Onion can be used to manage erectile dysfunction and sexual impotence in men. Its extract can be mixed with honey to boost fertility.

By Modupeoluwa Adekanye,

Culled from the Guardian Nigeria website