Studies in fish feed technology revealed that there is a potential for big time f_nvestment into fish feed production

Transcription

1 THE POTENTIALS FOR COMMEICIAL PRODUCTION OF FISH FEEDS IN NIGERIA by A.O. ADEREYE Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Field Station, Pategi, Kwara State ABSTRACT Studies in fish feed technology revealed that there is a potential for big time f_nvestment into fish feed production and marketing in view of the growing awareness of fish farming. Intensification of aquaculture is one of the primary methods of food (fin fish) production which requires technical knowledge and expertise in the formulation and manufacture of adequate feeds for the cultured species. Studies also revealed that all sort of food items were used by fish farmers ranging from animal dung, groundnut cake etc, to culture fishes to table size because of non-availability of rightly prepared feeds. Inadequate knowledge of detailed requirements of tropical cultured species was found to pose a hindrance to formula tion despite the fact that a lot has been accumulated in terms of biochemical in Nigeria. and nutritive values of food Sources challenges posed to The investigation further revealed the researchers in aquaculture, fish nutritianists and fihheries biolegists among others to elucidate the complete requirements of local fish species in terms of their protein, lipid and carbohydrate requirements such that their patents could be made available to companies like PFIZER, IBRU etc, and individuals alike to make commercialization of fish feeds a reality. It was also found that unlike poultry feeds which has penetrated every nook and corner in terms of availability of fish feeds are yet to enjoy similar status hence there is high prospect for its investment. 224

2 INTRODUCTION In keeping with the policy of self sufficiency in food production and all facets of life in Nigeria, it is desirable that technological growth must begin with research and development. There is an increasing awareness of fish farming wad public sectors so much that in Nigeria both in the private the Federal Government has pumped millions of Naira into msking the objective of blue (water) revolution a reality (Adekeye, 1981). Aquaculture being one of the primary methods of increasing fish, prawn etc, production requires technical knowledge and experience in the formulation and manufacture of adequate feeds for the cultured species (Adekeye, 1982). A great del of researches have been accomplished in Nigeria on the studie3 of biological characteristics of some freshwater species notable among the researches are Ita (1971), Fagade (1971), Olatunde (1977), Otobo (1977), Arawomo (1972), Elliot (1975) and Awachie (1975)etc, but not much has been carried out on meeting their feeding requirements in captivity% Unlike the raising of terrestical animals where the environment is fairly constant, the environment of fish ix subject to large variations especially the temperature and physicochemieal properties like DO, pi, salinity etc, which in turn affect the nutrients requirements. Fish at different stages of their development require different levels of dietary nutrients. The protein OE lipid requirement of each species changes with development. PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF FISH FEEDS Aquaculture is relatively young in Nigeria hence the evolution of fish feed is yet to march the enthusiasm o:f fish farmers because of lack of 'technical know-how. B.1,ly workers have observed that one of the hindrances to eirsheries Development in Nigeria is the lack of availability of cuslmorcial feeds in Nigeria. The earliest fish meal plant was installed and commissioned at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine (NIOMR), Lagos which was to be the base for the take-ofz pelleted feeds. It was believed that the large capacity of the equipment will enable the.institute to achieve econoetie scale both in production of fish feed and in the feed triaie. Ita (1975) surveyed the activities of Inland cultures in Northern Region and found out that feeds utilized Included deteriorated groundnut cakes, palm kernel, guineacorn, millets, cow dung and co666rcial feetilizers. From a recent survey carried out by this author, the pi-ee status of fish feed has not changed much as use is made of brewery paste, groundnut cake, fertilizers azr.1 grain. Reeearch It is gratifying to note that researches are now responding to call of investigating fish feed requirements of our locai species. Some of the works are far short of the comprehensive; 225

3 Zeed requirements for each species. Even where workers carry out investigations, there are no continuity to conclusively elucidate fish requirements. For instance Faturpti (1986) investigated the growth responses of Clarias lazera using PFIZER produced commercial feeds while Ufodike et al (1986) tested the effect of DOCA and carp pituitary on fecundity and fertility of Clarias lazera. Here, the materials utilized may not readily be available to investors. Also, there is need for coordination of research activities to build up the requirements of species as researchers do investigate different aspects e.g., Okoye et al (1986) investigated the utilization of various lipids by Oreochromis niloticus while Faturoti et al (1986) studied the growth responses and nutrient utiiization in Oreochromis niloticus fed varying levels of dietary cassava level. Since with exception of good water quality, no single factor is of more importance in determining the success of rearing fish in captivity than the dietary composition, it is therefore necessary that attention be paid to the production of adequate feeds for rearing fish. MATERIALS AND METHODS The potentials for commercial production of fish feeds in Nigeria was elucidated by surveying and travelling to some parts of the country investigating the mode of operation of the available fish ponds. Questionnaires were prepared to demand location of fish ponds, species of fish cultured, siee of farms, types of feeds provided, source of feeds nicer, Private) etc. Tiase questionnaires were sent to State Ministriese Fisheries Dei5artments, Research institutes, River Basin Development Authorities etc. In addition, use was made of related journals aud publications. 111:]8ULTS AND DISCUSSION The survey revealed that thousands of Nigerians are interested in owning a fish pond or fish farm and the Fisheries Extension workers confirmed that technical know-how of feeds has always been a stumbling block. Fish feed is beset with a lot of hind rances in that there is not a generalized pattern for all the fishes as each species requirement has to be established independently. Ita et al (1985) stated that Nigeria is blessed with over 12.5 marion hectares of water surface which a good percentage could be turned to gold mines if the right feeds could be produced to meet aquaculture and cage culture development. In TabRe 1 is the distribution of manageable fish farm/ponds in Nigeria on State basis. On the whoie 569 fish pond/ fa size (0-4 hectares) are scattered all over the country. This figure is not by any means exhaustive as there are many 226

4 Table i - State survey: Distribution of manageable fish farm/ponds in Nigeria (on State basis 0-4 Ha) Anambra State 18 Bauchi State 23 Bendel State 24 Benue State 14 Boro State 10 Cross River State 17 Gongola State 2 Imo State 44 Kaduna State 14 Kano State 17 Kwara State 30 Lagos State 12 Niger State 9 Ogun State 31 Ondo State 58 Oyo State 183 Plateau State 15 Rivers State 44 Sokoto State 4 Total

5 eonds and ccaeoenity ponds which an investigator might 'es able to reach. It smtfices to say that if fish feed is readily available as the poultry feed, aquacultural developmente could have gone far. For inatance, there is hardly any big town in Nigeria not having poultry e'eed mill. Table 2 shows the distribution of franchised millers of Pfizer Poultry feeds. In addition to Pfizer, there are many individual millers with distribution net-work all over tile country. The increasing popularity and development in aviary is brought about by the break through in feed manufacturing. One can hardly move a 50 km distance in most parts of the country without coming across poultry feed sales department. Backyard fish farming is practicable as fish can be stocked More modern homes can boast of in tank, or cemented ponds. fish aquarium because they readilyget the fish feeds in departmental stores around. If feeds for tropical fishes abound a lot more could be willing to have backyard fish ponds. The challenges posed to our researchers are immense'in the senee that results of their endeavour would culminate in rapid transformation of aquacultural development. It is now more than ever that attention has to be paid to formulating balanced rations from available raw materials like soybeans, groundnut cake, thrash fish etc by the institutes, universities, fisheries research organizations and River Basin Development Authorities. The government has an important role to play by assisting Research Institutes to be able to evolve the required technology for the take-off. In the alternative, the patents of break through could be sold to enterprising private firms like Pfizer, IBRU Organization etc to champion the commercialization of fish feeds in Nigeria. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank Dr. Adegoke, Acting Head of Department of Zoology, Unttersity of ife for permitting the use of some departmental facilites and Dr. F.A. Arawomo for his guidance in executing this project. My sincere appreciation goes to my wicqe, Lara for putting up with my frequent travellings and encouraging every endeavours. 22-k

6 Table 2 - Location of PFIZER franchised Millers in Nigeria Anambra State 2 Bauchi State Bendel State 1 Benue State Borno State Cross River State 1 Gongola State 1 Imo State 1 Kaduna State 2 Kano State Kwara State 3 Lagos State 4 Niger Stat 2 Ogun State 5 Ondo State 5 Oyo State 5 Plateau State 1 Rivers State Sokoto State 1 229

7 REFERENCES ADEKEYE, 0.A. (1981) Fisheries development in Nigeria. Unpublished report to Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling Seminar Series, Scotland, U.K. ADEKEYE, O.A. (1982) The Utilization by Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus with reference to their fatty composition. 59 pp. M.Sc. thesis, Stirling University, Scotland, U.K. ADEKEYE, O.A. (1976) Fish farming, solution to perennial protein shortage in Nigeria. Sunday Herald, Issue 19 January, p.7. Printed and Published by Kwara State Printing and Publishing Corporation, Ilorin, ADEKEYE, 0.A. (1986) Briefs on fish pond management. Herald, Monday January 27, p.8 Printed. and Published by Kwara State Printing and Publishing Corporation, Ilorin. AWACHIE, J.B.E. (1975) Fish culture possibilities on the flood plains of the Niger-Benue drainage system. Report of the Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa. CIPA Technical Paper No.4, Suppl, I. ARAWOMO, G.O. (1972) The ecology of the fish genera, Citharinus and Distichodus in Lake. Kainji, Nigeria. M.Phil, Thesis, University of Ife. 129 pp ELLIOT, 0.0. (1975) Biological observations of some species used for Aquaculture in Nigeria. Report of the Symposium on Aquaculture in Nigeria. CIFA Tech. Paper 211,LJE : FAGADE, S.O. (1971) The food and feeding habits of Tilapia sp. in the Lagos Lagoon. J. Fish. Biol, 3: FATUROTI, E.O. and R.E. AKIBOTE (1986) Growth responses and nutrient utilization in Oreochromis niloticus fed varying levels of dietary cassava peel. Nig. J. Appld. Fish & Hydro. Vol.i: FATUROTI, E.O.; A.M. BALOGUN and UGWU, L.L.C. (1986) NutrieLLL utilization and growth responses of Clarias lazera fed different dietary protein levels. Hydrobiol. Vol. I: Nig. J. Appld. Fish, ITA, E.O. (1971) Food and feeding relationship of fish in a tropical fish pond. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Ibadan. ITA, E.O. (1975) Observations on the present status and problems of inland fish culture in some Norther States of Nigeria. Report of the Symposium on Aquaculume in Africa. CIFA Tech. Paper No.4 Suppl. I. ITA, E.O.; J.K. BALOGUN, A. PANDOGARI, B. IBITOYE and SADO, E.K. (1985) A prelimianry checklist of inland water bodies in Nigeria with speeial reference to ponds, lakes, reservoir%s and major rivers. Kainii Lake Research Institute Technical Report Series No.14. _230

8 LIVESTOCK FARMER (1985) Quarterly magazine for Livestock farmers. July p, Vol.1, No.3 N.F.D.C. (1979) Report of the NFDC Sub-Committee on the Study of Problems of Aquaculture (Fish Farming) in Nigeria. Ed, 0.0. Elliot. OKOYE, F.C. and S.A. DADA (1986) Utilization of various lipids by Oreochromis niloticus (L). Paper Presented at the First. Conference of Nigerian Society för Ailied Fisheries and Hydrobiology. University o Jos, 23rd April, 1986 OLATUNDE, A.A. (1977) Studies on the biology of the family, Schilbeidae (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes) in Lake Kainji, Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Reading, U.K. OTOBO, F.O. (1977) The biology of the Clupeid fishes of Lake Kainji. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ife. 272 pp. UFODIKE, E.B.C.; E.A.B. EDU and A.D. ANTONY (1986) Effects of intramuscular dose pituitary of Deoxycoticosterone acetate and crude pituitary extract on fecundity and fertility of African catfish (Clarias lazera). Nigerian Journal of Applied Fisheries and Hydrobiology. Vol.1: