Tilapia production in Ikere Gorge Dam, Iseyin. Oyo state.
We are not doing anything unusual. The fish we are talking about is a native of West African rivers. Egypt an African country is the world second largest producer of Tilapia after China. Egypt harvested one million ton in the year 2015. If an African country can achieve fate, we should be able to do it as well.
Tilapia is a warm water fish with optimal temperature in range of 24 – 320c. The growth rate decline rapidly at temperatures below 20oc with little or no growth register at temperature below 150oc. We don’t experience low temperature of this type. With excellent water parameters in most of our lakes and dams, Nigeria should be self sufficient in fish production very soon.
Why Tilapia? The selection of this fish is commonly because of its positive quality. The whole world cannot be wrong. Tilapia is the world second commonly culture fish after carps.
Tilapia is commonly cultured because of:
- Faster growth
- High fecundity. Mature female can https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/ produce as much as 500eggs every nine days.
- Ability to convert very well plant protein to flesh, hence less expensive feed.
- Worldwide acceptability, suffers no religious discrimination.
- Versatile taste and texture, facilitating development of value added products.
The average fish consumption rate in West Africa is estimated at 8.9kg per capita compare to a world average of 18.9kg according to FAO. This is largely due to short supply. The region is witnessed a sharp increase in seafood imports from other part of the world in the recent years. Nigeria reputed as the Africa largest importer of frozen food.
For a country like Nigeria, the situation cannot continue like this. The importation to Nigeria apart from the government policy that did not favour importation of frozen food, Seafood importers are also being affected by the dynamics of the appreciating US dollar, this has a significant impact on the importation. The most immediate disadvantage of a weaker local currency to the dollar is the increase cost for foreign goods and this includes Tilapia imported from China.
Fish feed: fish feed industry is growing in Nigeria. In realization of this potential, Tilapia Aquaculture Developer Association (TADAN) encouraged major feed producer in Nigeria to start Tilapia feed. The only indigenous company that embraces this advice is GRAND CEREALS Nig Ltd. Jos.
It is on this note that I am announcing to you that we have carry out successful trials on Grand cereal Tilapia feed. The result of our trials will be made available after completion of the harvest.
We have used Tilapia feed made in Nigeria from hatchery to the Grow-out. No imported feed throughout the cultured period. This is in no small measure a commendable achievement.
Rearing system: the question whether concrete can be use for Tilapia farming never gives me too much to answer. The answer is always negative even under recirculatory system. Add any improvement to concrete tank, it will little or no economic sense if the stocking density of less than 10 fish per cubic meter must be adopted. It should not contemplated with the present power situation is concerned. Any system where power must be used is not good for Tilapia rearing in Nigeria. Because of the obvious reasons, Cage culture is a system to be adopted if all water parameters are good and the location is good. Initial cost may be on the higher side, it may break even within a year. LVHD, as the name suggest may be adopted because of the size and the cost.
Broodstock management: Genetic pool resides here. It will be very easy to come up with genetically superior Tilapia. Efforts have commenced to evolve genetically viable strain. TADAN is collaborating with Triton Africa Ltd in this direction. One of the developers of gift Tilapia Ms Edna Dionisioni is here presently in Nigeria and in close contact with TADAN to develop Nigerian strain.
Tilapia fingerling is a big problem all over the world. I am sure Nigeria farmers will solve that problem for the whole world. In farming Tilapia a lot of jobs will be created directly or indirectly.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are all welcome to see what we are doing in Ikere, feel free to advice on the way forward.