Catfish may soon be out of the reach of the average Nigerian as the hike in prices of feeds has forced some fish farmers out of business, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Some farmers who spoke to NAN on Wednesday in Lagos described the development as worrisome, calling on government to ensure price stability in the industry.
NAN reports that Skretting Feeds had in the first week of June increased the price of a bag of its 2mm feed from about N5, 000 to N8, 000.
A farmer, Mr Emmanuel Ogharegbe, said that many of his colleagues had since abandoned the business, due to arbitrary hike in the prices of feeds. Ogharegbe said the price hike did not translate to an increase in the price of fish as fish traders operated a cartel that could frustrate any increase in per kilo price of fish.
Another farmer, Mrs Josephine Obi, wondered how she would survive if the price of feed continued to increase.
“On June 1, I received a text message from a woman who was selling feeds to me announcing an increase in the prices of feeds. “Early this year, a Coppens Feeds increased its price and we shifted allegiance to Skretting Feeds. Now, the price of our new brand has increased by more than 50 per cent.
Her colleague, Mr Olushola Ogundele, who decried the hike in feed price, appealed to the Federal Government to come up with a policy that would ensure price stability in the agricultural sector. Ogundele said that government’s intervention was critical to forestalling the scarcity of catfish in the country. Another farmer, Mrs Beatrice Okpara, said that most of her colleagues were no longer in the farming business due to power outages and the increasing price of feeds.
“The price of fish meal, a major component for formulating fish feeds, increased from N500 per kilo to about N800 per kilo in the space of two months.
“If it continues like this, it will affect optimal production of fish,’’ Okpara said. Also, Mr Joseph Makinde, a fingerlings producer, said the imported feeds were critical in raising fish in the early phase of their life. NAN recalls that Chief Tayo Akingbolagun, President of the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, had on Jan. 11 told fish farmers to shun Coppens Feeds, over its arbitrary hike in prices.
Akingbolagun said that the 50 per cent increment in the price of Coppens 2mm feeds, was a reflection of the company’s unfriendly posture in the market. He said that the 2mm Coppens Feeds being sold for N5, 000 suddenly increased to N7, 500 during the yuletide, a development that put many farmers into difficulty. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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There are other brands out there in the market. Check out for Chi Fish Feeds that comes in various sizes of 2mm, 3mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, and 9mm. It has high protein produced as floating pelletized and fat-coated with very high conversion rate and readily available. It's farmers friendly in prizes that ranges around 4-5K.May God Bless Nigeria and secure the nations from droughtTp.
ReplyDeleteYou see.. u re right, a friend of my is using Chi fish feeds and he even had separate tanks that he uses to monitorthe growth of the fish compare to other feeds.. he told me Chi feeds is excellent. Thanks for your advice. SolaTh....
DeletePoultry feed has also gone up from N2200 to N3000 depending on the brand anyway. This is making lots of farmers to sell off their chickens so as to reduce the number. If poultry/fish farmers are now forced out of biz bcos of all these increase in prices of feed what will become of this our great nation. God pls come to our aid!
ReplyDeletePrices of seafish is ranging from 1500/pk to 2000 because of hike in fishing equipment and foodstuff. God where is our dear country turning to, we need prayers in our dear country Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThank u for this info. Really u re very correct. Im also a catfish farmer and a someone introduces the Chi fish feed to me, of which I used and the result was fantastics.
ReplyDeleteMy initial problem was dat there feed was not fatcoated, but they had since last year started fat-coating. The prices are also farmers friendly in the range of 5K. The protein contents with the conversion was superb.. Im not too sure.. I think they also sells juveniles and fingerlings.
God bless catfish farmers.. God bless Fed Rep of Nigeria......Yomite
We should expect that foreign fish feeds will definitely goes up of moment. The forex is affecting all this products.. I mean fish feeds and poultry products generally.
ReplyDeleteBut I think the Chi fish feeds is being produced here in Nigeria..and the quality can compete with what is obtainable in other lands. May God heal our lands... PressyT.
Great post, very educative it's an eye opener
ReplyDeleteHIGH QUALITY CATFISH FEEDS FOR SALE AT NGN2,500 PER 15KG BAG.
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I own a big Catfish farm myself at Ogbogbo in Ijebu North East, Ogun State... so my floating and sinking pellets are properly prepared with a 50%(CP) percent crude protein good and well balance fish feed formulation. We supply Nationwide to your farm or doorstep at an affordable price of NGN 2,500 per 15kg bag.
The ingredients required to manufacture high quality feed are readily available here in Nigeria hence my Catfish feed has a high quality energy source required for growth and maintenance of body tissue resulting in improved weight gains because it is fortified with balanced vitamins, minerals and amino acids plus Stabilized Vitamin C required for better metabolism, skeletal formation, nerves, body fluid regulation and enzymes to yield maximum productivity.
We have standard fingerlings, juveniles, post-juveniles and broodstock for sale at an affordable rate. Feel free to call us on 08103953855. Our address is: No. 3, Okele Street, Ogbogbo, Ijebu North East, Ogun State, Nigeria. We offer free nationwide delivery.