CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study.

Hunger and malnutrition remain amongst the most devastating problems facing the world poor

and needy (FAO, 2002). About 80 to 90 million people have to be fed yearly and most of them

are in the developing countries. The most reliable source of protein for many is fish, yet millions

of people who depend on fish are faced daily with the fear of food shortage (World fish center,

2009). With the population of Nigeria on the rise, there is a correspondingly increasing demand

for food and to obtain a good nutritive ration, the demand for fish protein is definitely going to

increase.

Increasing the per caput consumption of fish in any country benefits health. Fish and fish

products are known worldwide as a very important diet because of their high nutritive quality

and significance in improving human health (Amao et al., 2006). Fish plays a vital role in

feeding the world’s population and contributing significantly to the dietary protein intake of

billions of the populace (Amao et al., 2006). On a global scale, almost 16 percent of total

average intake of animal protein was attributable to fish in1988 (FAO, 1990). The Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO, 1991), recommended that an individual takes 35 grams per

caput of animal protein per day for sustainable growth and development. Fish which contributes

36.6 grams per day of net protein utilization in Nigerian homes is still below the recommended

requirement by the world health organisation (WHO) (Amao et al., 2006). However, the animal

protein consumption in Nigeria is less than 8 g per person per day, which is far lower than the

FAO minimum recommendation (Niang and Jubrin, 2001).

Fish and fish products provide more than 60% of the total protein intakes in adults especially in

the rural areas (Adekoya, 2004). Regrettably, the supply of food fish has been on the decline and

it is due to consistent declines from the country’s major source of food fish (Ugwumba and

Chukwuji, 2010). Domestic fish production is put at 551,700 metric tonnes as against the present

national demand of about 1.5 million metric tonnes estimated for 2007 (Osawe, 2007). The

shortfall is said to be abridged by the importation of 680,000 metric tonnes annually consuming

about N 50 billion in foreign exchange (Odukwe, 2007). In a meeting of the African Regional

Nutrition Strategy in 1993, Nigeria was included as one of the countries having the lowest daily

per capita supplies of between 70-90 percent of nutrition requirements (Amao et al., 2006).

Therefore, increasing fish production in Nigeria requires embarking on pond fish farming. This

has prompted the Federal Government of Nigeria to package the Presidential Initiative on

fisheries and aquaculture development in 2003 to provide financial and technical assistance to

government programmes and projects encouraging fish production (Ugwumba and Chukwuji,

2010). Similarly, the Imo State government created a fisheries component in their Agricultural

Development Programme with many technologies to support fish farmers in order to compliment

the Federal Government effort. Regardless these efforts of Government, fish production has

remained low in Nigeria (Ugwumba and Chukwuji, 2010). This has been attributed to inadequate

supplies from the local fish farmers due to the use of poor quality fish seeds, inadequate

information, high cost of feeds, traditional techniques, small size of holdings, inefficiency in

resource use, poor infrastructural facilities, lack of credit, high cost of industrial feed, lack of

extension agents, lack of veterinary doctors and lack of fish production equipment and low

capital investment (Adeogun et al., 2007; Inoni, 2007; Ugwumba and Nnabuife, 2008; Adinya

and Ikpi, 2008; Ugwumba and Chukwuji, 2010; Adinya et al., 2011; Madubuike, 2012).

The essentiality of protein in the human body cannot be underestimated. It is one of the major

nutrients that are crucial in diets especially for infants, young children and pregnant women. In

low-income countries staples such as rice, wheat, maize and cassava make up the bulk of the

food consumed by the people; this serves as their major energy and nutrients. Protein in itself is

found mainly in animals, poultry and some plants but some sources of these proteins such as

animals and plants are either too expensive or scarce. Hence, the cheapest source of protein

especially to the developing countries is fish.

Fish is acclaimed to be the principal source of animal protein for over one

billion people globally and provides many important nutritional and health

benefits. Fish has the highest level of easily metabolisable proteins; it is

reputed for its high quality proteins, fats, vitamins, calcium, iron and

essential amino acids. The per caput consumption of animal protein in the

country has been put at 5gm per day. This is a far cry from the FAO’s

recommended level of 35gm per day (Afolami and Oladimeji, 2003). Fish

farming is a profitable venture and it is rapidly expanding and it will continue

to be profitable if the planning and management are well taken care of.

World Fish Center (2009) estimates that fish provides 22 percent of the protein intake in Sub-

Saharan Africa. Fish also supplies about 180 calories per capita per day. Fish is a vital element in

diets and its contributions to nutrients is also very crucial. Fish supplies Iron, Zinc, Calcium,

Iodine, Potassium, Vitamins A and B and fatty acids, which is necessary for the development of

the brain and the body.

As fish serves as a subsistence product and source of direct food security for fishing households,

the generation of incomes derived from wages as a result of fish trade is even more important as

an indirect contribution to food security as about 30 to 45 million people in Africa depend on

fish for their livelihood.

In analyzing fish trade, income generated from these has been very beneficial for the

development of the developing world as a whole and the international trade in fishery products.

Fish trade was birthed by small-scale integrated fish farming systems, which is mainly done in

the rural areas with crude implements.

According to Moses (1983), fish farming is the rational rearing of fish and other aquatic

organisms in man-made ponds, reservoirs, cages and other enclosures in lakes and coastal

waters. It is seen as one of the most ancient occupations of man.

Mathew (1992) defined fish farming (also known as aquaculture) as the art of cultivating the

natural produce of water; the raising or fattening of fish in enclosed ponds, or the rearing of

aquatic organisms under controlled or semi controlled condition.

Fish farming has a substantial history, though its exact origin is still not ascertained. It was

assumed that people who lived near water (streams, rivers, lakes and seas) learnt how to catch

fish at about the same time man began to hunt for animals on land. When it all started, the

catching implements (or gear) were such as arrows, spears and traps (which were also used in

hunting for animals). More specific implements were later developed for catching fish. Fishing

started in China and Egypt for more than 4000 years. The fishing year was accompanied by that

of the fishing craft. Fishing had to be carried out beyond the bank and shorelines and so arose the

necessity for some craft or vessel with which the fishermen could move into deeper waters. The

early fishing crafts were simple devices such as floating logs, bamboo, papyrus rafts and

calabash craft; canoes probably came later as an improvement on these.

The development of sophisticated fishing gear and improvement in vessel design and size were

followed by the improvement in fish detection methods or the invention of new fish finding and

detection equipments such as echo-sounders.

Fish farming came into existence as a result of the sudden depletion of fish. The supplies of fish

in the world’s vast ocean as well as numerous inland waters that once seemed inexhaustible have

almost been used up due to the worldwide population explosion and consequent over-

exploitation of almost any fishery around the globe. The global demand for fish in this recent

time is rising too fast to provide for the millions of people who rely on it as a basic foodstuff,

according to the BBC news. The World Fish and the International Food Policy Research Institute

estimated that fish production would have to double in the next 25 years to keep up with

population growth.

In Africa, fish farming is still insignificant at the global level and accounts for about 0.9 percent

of the total global aquaculture production. Research institutes have been promoting fish farming

within the context of integrated agriculture and began addressing socio-cultural and economic

factors that have been impeding countries like Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and

Zambia.

Furthermore, historical analysis reveals that conventional fish farming was introduced in Nigeria

by Maclaren (1941) and the farm was sited in Ikoyi area of Lagos state between 1949 and 1953.

He established a modern fish farm in Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria. This opened the gateway for

modern fish farming in other states of the country (Ipinjolu, 1984). This later fell into two

distinct periods: 1950-1970 and 1970-1992. The first period popularized fish farming, while the

second period concentrated on the expansion and establishment of demonstrating fish farms in

addition to the bold attempts on reducing major constraints for rapid aquaculture development.

While people continued to exert pressure on the seas, oceans, rivers and local streams for fish,

cultural production of desired fish species went through a slow motion of industrialization in

Nigeria. Over the years, different governments in Nigeria have recognized the relevance of fish

farming but despite the several attempts made to boost their productivity through institutional

reforms and various fiscal and economic measures, the fisheries sector still shows a deficit in the

supply and demand of fish to the populace. It was also thought that the small-scale fish farm was

to be a temporary thing but it has come to stay as a permanent feature of the fisheries in the

developing nations worldwide (Nigeria inclusive). The shift from agricultural production to oil

exploration has accounted for a decline in fish production. It has resulted in billions of naira

being spent on the importation of frozen fish to meet Nigeria's increasing demand put at 1.5

million metric tones per annum whereas the domestic fish supply stands about 600,000 metric

tonnes (The Guardian 2005). The short fall has not been met even with importation. To this

effect, the Federal Government spends about N50 billion annually on the importance of frozen

foods so as to meet the need of its citizens.

In the bid to renovate and establish new fish farms, which has been seen by the government to be

lucrative, it was discovered that about 59 government (state and federal) fish farms have been

abandoned due to the fact that government has limited resources to properly manage and sustain

the facilities in place. Some of these fish farms include:

The Kano State Bagauda fish farm

The Oluponna Federal fish hatchery and farm, Osun state

Panyam fish farm, Plateau state

Oris Aquatics, Lagos state.

Lagos state as one of the centre states in Nigeria is endowed with 144,877 hectares of swamp

much more amenable to aquaculture. About 120 hectares of this have been converted to fish

farms and only 40% of these farms are in production are in production presently. The others are

still under construction or have been abandoned due to poor management; land distinctly suitable

for aquaculture is priced out of the reach of small fish farmers. Affordable alternatives are

invariably covered with sandy topsoil, less than 30% clay content and they are in close proximity

with poor quality water which is not particularly suitable for fish farming such that of all the fish

farms in the state ranging between 0.1 and 1.0 hectares, few are truly commercial in size and

over 90 of all fish farms are located in Badagry area of the state where apparently land is

comparatively cheaper as at now.

However, farm output is not adequately recorded, neither is marketing systemized thus records

and quantification of production and profitability of each fish farm made reliable fish farm

analysis production analysis different in the past. The coming of technology has however

improved production skills and awareness of record keeping for easy quantification of profits

especially in the area of continuous culture, thereby leading to positive results (BBC News).

1.2 Statement of the problem.

NIGERIA is one of the largest importers of food in the world today. In 2010 alone, it spent 97

billion naira on the importation of fish among other foods they import. This is not regarding the

marine resources, rivers, lakes, creeks and good climate and numerous fish farmers we are

blessed with. This is not fiscally, economically or politically sustainable. Nigeria is obviously

eating beyond its means. (Dr Akinwunmi Adesina 2013 unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural

potential to create wealth) while we smile as we consume frozen fish every day, the Nigerian fish

farmers cry because the importation of fish undermines their production.

In Nigeria today, the issue of malnutrition and poverty is on the rise, hence the need for the

provision of adequate food and nutrient especially protein for the rising population. Over 90

percent of the domestic fish supply emanate from fishing in natural waters (Tabor, 1984). Fish

farming entails the use of skills and a game of chance. Attention is now shifting to the rearing of

fish in the environment, which can be controlled with ease.

The aquaculture statistics according to the FAO (2010) reports that fish farming is on the

increase; the fish farmer is becoming an important feature in the whole agricultural production.

The desire to know how productive he can be with the resources at his disposal is the entire

focus. Hence, the study intends to provide information on the resources put together as

productive inputs and the revenue to be derived. Greater improvement in fish production can be

achieved with a proper analysis that will lead to knowledge of the effect of productive inputs on

output of pond fish farming and constraints to pond fish production which constitute the basis for

this study.

1.3 Objective of the study.

The main objective of this study is

To appraise the costs incurred and the benefits derived from fish farming for the proper

assessment of the enterprise’s profitability.

To analyze the costs and benefits of fish farming with earthen ponds long side with

concrete tanks.

To identify the most profitable method of fish farming

1.4 Research Questions.

The research questions in this study include the following:

a) What are the necessary costs to be incurred in setting up a fish farm?

b) What are the benefits to be derived from setting up this business?

c) Is fish farming truly viable?

d) Does the fish farming method affect the yield and profitability of the farmers?

e) What method of fish farming is most profitable for a new fish farmer in Akure?

1.5 HypothesisThe hypotheses to be tested in this study are stated in null forms as follows;

H0: There is no significant difference between the mean incomes of the two production systems.

H0: there is no difference between the socio- economic characteristics of concrete tank farmers

and earthen pond catfish farmers.

1.6 Scope of the study.

The scope of this study covers a sub-sector of the agricultural sector, which is a fishery. This will

involve the assertions of the cost incurred in setting up and the benefits to be derived thereafter.

The study will cover fish farms in Akure metropolis of Ondo state and the time frame for the

study will be for about four months.

1.7 Limitation of the study.

The study is limited to the time frame accrued, limited knowledge of the farmers and the access

to adequate materials needed to carry out the study extensively.

1.8 Plan of the study.

For better arrangement of this study, the plan carried out is to divide the project into chapters,

which are:

Chapter 2: Literature review: This explores the diverse literatures that have been written with

respect to this study.

Chapter 3: Methodology: This section reveals the study area in which the project will be carried

out, type of data to be collected and method to be used in analyzing the data

Chapter 4: Analysis: this chapter is aimed at analyzing and interpreting the data that would be

collected

Chapter 5: This is the last chapter of this study and it contains the Summary, Conclusion and

Recommendations.