The Food & Beverages West Africa exhibition gives participants in the agriculture and allied industries the opportunity to showcase their products and services amongst themselves and to the general public.
I attended the Food & Beverage (FAB) West Africa 2022 international exhibition which was held 14th – 16th June, 2022 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, Nigeria. The event gives participants in the agriculture and allied industries the opportunity to showcase their products and services amongst themselves and to the general public.
I have been attending or following the event since 2017. I was drawn to the event at a time when I was managing Divine Fish Farm and Gardens (https://divinefish.com.ng) where we grow catfish, process, pack and sell it.
The Food and Beverage West Africa exhibition gives one the opportunity to see players in the agriculture value chain – food and beverage producers and suppliers, food and beverage manufacturers, confectionery makers, equipment suppliers, logistics providers, caterers, financiers and the general public. By attending the event I get to see the amazing things that people and organizations are doing in the food and beverage industry.
According to the official event report on fab-westafrica.com, in 2021 there were 3492 attendees, 121 exhibitors, 59 hosted VIP buyers, an SME zone with 20 local exhibitors, and over 15 press houses and media outlets.
The 2022 event was well promoted and organised and it delivered on its promise to provide a platform for the food and beverage industry to network, do business and grow.
Ugochukwu Ukwuegbu at the Food & Beverage West Africa 2022 exhibitionUgochukwu Ukwuegbu at the Food & Beverage West Africa 2022 exhibition
A good benchmark for budget planning to grow catfish is estimating the cost required to feed the fish till they reach market size. I recommend that every fish farmer does this at the beginning of a fish growing cycle.
A good benchmark for budget planning to grow catfish is estimating the cost required to feed the fish till they reach market size. I recommend that every fish farmer does this at the beginning of a fish growing cycle.
When feeding of catfish is done optimally, 1000 kilogrammes (kg) of feed will convert to 1000 kilogrammes of catfish flesh.
Method
You can choose to grow 1000 kg of catfish by:
Growing 3000 pieces of catfish juveniles to average mass of 330 grammes in 3 months; or
2000 pieces of juveniles to average mass of 500 grammes in 4 months; or
1000 pieces of juveniles to average mass of 1 kg in 6 months.
Whichever method you choose from above, it is recommended that you grow with floating feed to 50% of body mass and complete with sinking feed for the remaining 50% of body mass.
Cost of feed (as of March, 2020) for raising 1 tonne of catfish.
500 kg of bagged floating feed will cost roughly N220, 000 (two hundred and twenty thousand naira); and
500 kg of bagged sinking feed will cost roughly N185, 000.
Going by the above you can estimate that it will cost you N405,000 to grow 1 tonne of catfish flesh.
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
On Wednesday, June 13, 2018 we delivered 1000 pieces of catfish fingerlings to a brand new catfish farmer around Sango Ota, Ogun State. The new farmer is an enterprising young man who graduated from university in 2016. His parents’ house has unused piece of land at the backyard and he decided to construct two concrete ponds on it and begin catfish farming.
The farmer engaged us to supply fingerlings and offer consultancy services to him as he grows the fish to maturity and sales so that he gets it right at his first attempt.
Supplying the fingerlings involved selecting the fish at our farm, putting them in a container, transporting to the customer location and introducing them into the customer’s ponds. Prior to the day of delivery we had advised the farmer to prepare the pond for his new fingerlings.
On arrival at the farm we ensured that the water condition in the pond was good to receive the fish before pouring the fish into their new habitat. It was an exciting experience for the young farmer and those around him.
Our promise to our new partner is to support his catfish farming business with our wealth of experience so that he gets it right the first time. Our support began with supplying him with a good set of fingerlings and we are willing to support him through growth, marketing and ultimately profitability.
When feeding of catfish is done optimally, 1000 kilogrammes (kg) of feed will convert to 1000 kilogrammes of catfish flesh.
A good benchmark for budget planning to grow catfish is estimating the cost required to feed the fish till they reach market size. I recommend that every fish farmer does this at the beginning of a fish growing cycle.
When feeding of catfish is done optimally, 1000 kilogrammes (kg) of feed will convert to 1000 kilogrammes of catfish flesh.
Method
You can choose to grow 1000 kg of catfish by:
Growing 3000 pieces of catfish juveniles to average mass of 330 grammes in 3 months; or
2000 pieces of juveniles to average mass of 500 grammes in 4 months; or
1000 pieces of juveniles to average mass of 1 kg in 6 months.
Whichever method you choose from above, it is recommended that you grow with floating feed to 50% of body mass and complete with sinking feed for the remaining 50% of body mass.
Cost of feed (as of March, 2018) for raising 1 tonne of catfish.
500 kg of bagged floating feed will cost roughly N270, 000 (two hundred and seventy thousand naira); and
500 kg of bagged sinking feed will cost roughly N170, 000.
Going by the above you can estimate that it will cost you N440,000 to grow 1 tonne of catfish flesh.
We can deliver catfish fingerlings or juveniles of the hetero-clarias (hybrid) specie to you anywhere in Nigeria from Lagos State.
The prices of catfish fingerlings and juveniles as of November, 2017 are:
SN
Quantity
Fingerlings (4 weeks)
Juveniles (8 weeks)
1
0 – 5,000 pieces
N25.00 per fish
N35.00 per fish
2
5,001 – 10,000 pieces
N20.00 per fish
N30.00 per fish
3
10,000 and above
N15.00 per fish
N25.00 per fish
Procedure to order your catfish fingerlings and juveniles
The first step is to call 08077776861 to confirm the availability of fingerlings.
If you want fingerlings (4 weeks old catfish) and they are available they can be packaged and shipped to you within three (3) working days after payment has been made for them.
If you want juveniles (8 weeks old catfish) then you will first call to confirm for the availability of fingerlings. If fingerlings are available then you will book for them. This means you pay for them. On our part we will feed them and take good care of them till they grow to juvenile stage after 3 – 4 weeks.
You can monitor the progress of growth of your fish within this period. When the fish have reached juvenile stage we will package them for you and send them by night through a reliable transport company. You can then pick the fish up at the transporter’s motor park the following morning.
In August, 2017 we attended the Yaba Deanery Agriculture Training, Seminar and Empowerment programme at the YCC Hall, St Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos.
The event was anchored by Rev. Fr. Fortunatus Okeke, OP, the Executive Director, Dominican Centre for Human Resources Development, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
The event was themed Agric Business: Opportunities and viability in Nigeria.
Here are some pictures from the event.
Start an agriculcure business today and beat recession.
Rev. Fr. Fortunatus Okeke and Dr Emmanuel Ijewere
Chairman of the occasion Dr Emmanuel Ijewere
Guest speakers at the 2017 Yaba Deanery Agric Business Seminar and Empowerment Programme
Guest speakers at the 2017 Yaba Deanery Agric Business Seminar and Empowerment Programme
Welcome address at the 2017 Yaba Deanery Agric Business Seminar and Empowerment Programme
Director Dominican Centre for Human Resources Development
Rev. Fr. Fortunatus Okeke, Director Dominican Centre for Human Resources Development
Yaba Deanery Agric. Business Training and Empowerment Programme
Audience at the Yaba Deanery Agric. Business Training and Empowerment Programme
Participants of the Yaba Deanery Agric. Business Training and Empowerment Programme
Participants of the Yaba Deanery Agric. Business Training and Empowerment Programme, St Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos
On Saturday, 29th July, 2017 we (divinefish.com.ng) attended the Smart Farms Seminar – Family Edition organised by PS Nutrac in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event discussed how farming can be done at home using everyday materials and innovative techniques to grow green healthy foods and vegetables.
Through smart farming agricultural productivity can be increased while agricultural wastage can be drastically reduced. The need for every hand to contribute to food sufficiency in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.
Techniques of growing food discussed at the seminar include:
Soil-based farming;
Soil-less culture;
Hydroponics;
Aquaculture;
Aquaponics;
Design of hydroponics and aquaponics units;
Fish in aquaponics;
Hydroponics and aquaponics plants;
Plant propagation; and
Plant growth requirement.
It was a day of learning that attracted over 50 farmers and farming enthusiasts from Lagos and surrounding states. Our take-away from the event was how to use the waste water from our fish ponds, which is rich in ammonia (a source of nitrogen), to fertilize our vegetable garden. Hopefully this will help improve our water management and increase our vegetable yield.
The smart farm seminar was organised by PS Nutrac, a company committed to improved production of healthy foods using innovative techniques.
Processing catfish using firewood and charcoal fuelled oven gives the fish a unique taste that is reminicent of traditional home cooking. The process is meticulous and it results in smoked and dried catfish that attracts premium price from discerning consumers.
What you need:
50 kilogrammes (kg) of live catfish
500 grammes (g) of table salt
Two sacks
Two large plastic basins/bowls and trays
A brick oven (powered by firewood and charcoal)
Two bundles of firewood
One sack of charcoal
Water
Knife or razor blades
Soap
Day 1
Killing;
Washing;
Degutting;
Smoking;
Day 2 – Drying
Day 3 – Drying
Day 4 – Drying
You can enroll for a practical hands on training course with us at our farm. Alternatively, you can purchase an e-copy of our detailed instruction manual with photos to guide you on catfish processing. Contact us if you are interested in learning how to add value to fresh catfish by processing it.
Divine Fish Farm exhibited at the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) ‘Made in Nigeria’ Trade Exhibition which held on Wednesday – Thursday, December 7 – 8, at the Euphoria Event Place, 1B, Archdeacon Ogunbiyi Close, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
The exhibition was organised by the YouWiN! programme to support the growth of beneficiary businesses and connect them to local and international markets with the added aim of expanding their reach as well as taking their businesses to the next level.
During the two-day exhibition products and services were showcased from priority sectors across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Products from agriculture, household items, furniture and fixtures, electrical equipment, fashion, jewellery, gifts, accessories, apparel, textiles, chemicals, industrial goods, building materials and equipment were exhibited.
Many people from across Nigeria visited the trade exhibition. Officials from government departments and agencies like the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) were part of discussion panel sessions at the event. Other discussion panel sessions at the exhibition were composed of entrepreneurs, industry and professional associations, industry captains, local and international investors and the general public.
The objectives of the exhibition were:
Foster networking among YouWiN! beneficiaries and other entrepreneurs;
Promote the creation and growth of indigenous industries and enterprises;
Network local enterprises with business opportunities at the international level;
Present a platform for business and industry innovators to showcase and possibly collaborate;
Allow venture capital entrepreneurs and businesses to explore investment opportunities;
Promote the use and export of ‘Made in Nigeria’ products.
The YouWiN! ‘Made in Nigeria’ Trade Exhibition was organised with support from The World Bank, Growth and Employment (GEM) Project, YouWiN! Partner Banks, Development Partners (DFID and affiliates), Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Corporate organisations.
The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) is a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), the Federal Ministry for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the World Bank and the organised private sector. The objective of YouWiN! is to create jobs by encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship through innovation. The programme provides financing, capacity building and mentoring to young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
Credit: 1st YouWiN ‘Made in Nigeria’ Exhibition event programme.
Ugochukwu Ukwuegbu
For Divine Fish Farm
Event Pictures:
Discussion panel by captains of industry
Discussion panel by representavies of government departments and agencies
Discussion panel by representatives from government department and agencies
