Catfish is one of the special fish we consume. Catfish is a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble Cat Whiskers, Catfish ranges in size and behaviour from the 3 largest species alive, the Mekong giant Catfish from South East Asia, the Wals Catfish of Eurasia and the Piraiba of South America to detritivores. There are also other like Channels Catfish, Wels Catfish, Armored Catfishes, Suckermouth Catfish, Air breathing Catfishes, Clarias Gariepinus, Corydoras, and Blue Catfish.
Clarias is the common one we eat in Nigeria which Yoruba call Eja Aro, while Igbo people call it Azu Okpo. And Hausa call it Tarwada. This fish has it’s different ways of making it for consumption which the common one is Catfish Pepper Soup, Barbeque, Grilled Catfish, and it is easy to preseve if it is well smoked.
It has many health benefits which are Vitamin B12 and Its very high in protein. Catfish also contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids. It also has impressive Nutrition Profile. It is low in calories and it has phosphorus. It is low in saturated fatty acids. It has selenium. It also has vitamin A and many more.
Reproduction of Catfish is not an easy task compared to the profit the Catfish Farmers are getting afterward.
The big news is that the bad economy has affected that business and the Catfish Farmers are unhappy. The problem has to do with the soaring price of feeding the fish, electricity and water changes.
For example the cost of feeding about 1000 pieces of Catfish has risen compared to the cost 2 or 3 years ago. A bag of 2mm feed that goes for N12,000 is now N34,000 not to mention the small sizes like fryers, findings, post, post finger, juveline, and jombo. The smaller they are the bigger the price of their feeding.
This has pushed many Catfish Farmers to back off from this business because the price of feed keeps increasing by the day and this is affecting the profit.
Electricity bills is also one major problem for Catfish Farmer. The electricity bills they pay per month before is not what it is now and this is why many Catfish Farmers have had suspend the business and subsequently fold up.
Water charges has also been the enemy of many Catfish Farmers. At at point water formula will be balanced but during the early rain season, the water formula changes the acid level increases and this will lead to so many hazards for the fishes in the water. The PH range for Catfish Farming is generally between 6.5 and 8.5. Extance deviations from this range, whether too acidic or too Alkaline, can negatively impact Catfish health, growth and survival. It stops them from eating well which will affect and slow down their growth. At that point of not eating well, the left over food in the water will be contacted which will lead to bacteria in the water and bacterial will be feeding on the flesh of the fishes and this will cause more demages and loss for the Catfish Farmers.
According to the manager of Blue-Fin Farm, Ademola Akinrodoye, at Fish farm Odoguyan Ikorodu, Catfish Farmers can cutdown the cost of feeding the Catfish by producing Catfish feeds, and as for the the electricity issue there are solar pumping machines to pump or supply water to the ponds and for the water formula changes, it can be controlled by water plant.
– Abiodun Olusola
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