Fish Farming Case Study

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background to the Study

Agriculture is an important and significant sector of every economy globally. It serves as a means of livelihood and a source of revenue for the government whether in small or large scale. Farming practices include fish farming, commercial agriculture, plantation or estate agriculture, animal rearing (domestic or pastoral nomadism), etc (Chigbu, Nmeregini, Onukaogu, Okoye & Apeh, 2016). Fish farming is the agricultural practice of nurturing fish in artificial environment) for increased fish production. Mainly the rural populaces in Nigeria engage in fish farming as their source of livelihood. Various species of fish are farmed, and examples include hybrid catfish, Nile tilapia, African Catfish and African bony tongue.

Aquaculture, the farming of fish and other aquatic animals, is ranked as the World’s fastest growing food production sector (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2005]. Nigeria has the potential to attain the desired fish self-sufficiency if the numerous aquaculture potentials (land, 910,768 sq km and water, 13,000 sq km) that abound the country are adequately utilized (Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], 2016). There are an estimated 12,478,818 hectares of inland waters and some 741,509

Two-third of fish consumed in Nigeria is imported. The contribution of fish farming to domestic fish production in this country is insignificant. The stock of Natural fishes in Nigeria’s river, estuarine, brackish-water, lagoon, creeks, ocean, and other water bodies is overstretched as a result of over fishing. There is threat to food security now as the rate at which fishes are being exploited had exceeded their natural ability to replenish (Ssentogo, et. al., 2004). In Nigeria, there is a shortage of fish supply resulting from increasing population and static or declining output from fishing (Nigerian Fishery Statistics, 2016; Odom,