Following the high patronage in their business, a few Nasarawa State catfish growers and vendors have expressed happiness.

The farmers said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Nasarawa State’s Karu Local Government Area.

According to NAN, studies reveal that catfish farming in Nigeria is seeing a high level of patronage, suggesting a booming market for the commodity.

According to the study, many Nigerians, especially those from lower-income households, find catfish to be an easily accessible and reasonably priced protein source, contributing to its appeal.

NAN also reports that the national fish demand, estimated at 3.6 million metric tonnes annually, surpasses domestic production, further fuelling the catfish farming sector.

Mr Uduak Solomon, a popular farmer in the Angwan Tiv community in New Nyanya, started the business in 2016 as his main occupation after he retired as a security officer.

Solomon added that his business had flourished beyond his expectations over the years despite the numerous risks involved in fish farming.

He said that his business had made huge profits in the last three months due to the Sallah and Easter celebrations.

Solomon said that the reduction in the cost of fish feed was also a significant factor that helped boost his profit.

According to him, a bag of Blue Crown fish feed was sold for N29,500 in 2024; now, it goes for N26,200.

“The price for a kilo of catfish currently ranges from N2,800 to N3,500, but last year it was sold for N4,800 per kilo.

“With the price reduction, patronage had increased tremendously,” he said.

Solomon advised farmers to sell their catfish according to the current market price, as some farmers tend to keep their fish for a long time in the hope of selling at a higher price.

Mrs Margret Audu, a fish seller, said she had made tremendous sales in the catfish business this year.

She said she had witnessed increased patronage due to the high demand for catfish from various restaurants and eateries.

Audu stated that despite the high demand for fresh catfish, there was also a significant demand for dried catfish, as many people preferred it as it was easier to preserve.

However, she stated that the major challenge she encountered was the high cost of transportation to different farms in search of catfish.

Audu appealed to the Federal Government and non-governmental organisations to support small-scale business owners with grants and equipment to boost their businesses.

Mr Bala Suleiman, another fish farmer, shared his remarkable 12-year journey in the fish business with NAN.

He recounted the challenges he faced in his first year, including limited funding, high mortality rates, expensive feed, low demand and theft.

Suleiman explained that he surmounted his challenges through loans and grants from cooperative societies, coupled with his determination to ensure his business succeeded.

He advised farmers to regularly sort and change water to minimise the mortality rate and ensure a good harvest.

Mrs Elizabeth Aonodongu, a fish seller, described the catfish business as lucrative, adding that it had enabled her to support her family’s needs over the years.

She attributed the popularity of catfish to its high protein content, saying that many people preferred it to other fish, making it a much sought-after product in her community.

According to Aonodongu, her farm has sold over 6,000,000 catfish, both smoked and fresh, to bars in various areas over the past three months, many of them being sent overseas.

Aonodongu also mentioned that the high price of hatching materials caused poor sales at the start of the year.

Aonodongu also mentioned how her business is badly impacted by some consumers who purchase items on credit with the promise to pay at the end of the month.

Despite these difficulties, Aonodongu advised young catfish farmers to maintain consistency and see the current, seemingly impossible barriers as early chances for development.

Source: Punch

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