AGRICULTURE: Revolutionising Catfish Value Chain In Nigeria

The demand for catfish in Nigeria is on the rise by the day and  the vast and fertile waters of Nigeria offers a hidden treasure that lies beneath the surface. Catfish with its immense nutritional value, economic potential has the power to transform lives and boost the economy.

However, unlocking the true value of the catfish value chain in Nigeria has been a challenge. Although a promising wave of innovation and entrepreneurship is sweeping through the industry which has offered a glimmer of hope and endless possibilities for Nigeria’s catfish farmers and stakeholders.

Moreso, catfish farming has long been a traditional practice in Nigeria, mainly carried out by small-scale farmers but limited access to modern farming techniques, inadequate infrastructure, and fragmented markets have hindered the growth of the catfish value chain. Despite these challenges, catfish remains a symbol of opportunity, with its potential to alleviate poverty, create jobs and improve food security.

Besides being Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is also the world’s largest producer of African catfish, with an estimated annual production of one million tonnes in 2021, worth around $2.6 billion.

The catfish value chain in Nigeria involves several stages: breeding, fingerling production, grow-out farming, processing, marketing, and consumption. Each stage presents its unique challenges and opportunities.

Currently, the industry is characterized by small-scale operations, with many farmers lacking access to quality fingerlings, feed, and modern farming techniques. This has resulted in low productivity and profitability and in addition, lack of proper processing and storage facilities often leads to post-harvest losses, further reducing the industry’s profitability.

A value chain analysis conducted by FISH4ACP and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development show that Nigeria has an estimated 285, 000 producers of catfish with  small-scale farmers represent over 60 percent . The catfish value chain itself also offers employment to some one million people.

To unlock the catfish value chain’s potential, a multi-faceted approach is required. This involves addressing the challenges at each stage of the value chain and leveraging the opportunities that exist.

Recently FAO in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  launched the implementation phase for the sustainable development of the catfish value chain in Nigeria.

The project, Fish4ACP which is currently funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OCAPS) to contribute to food security and nutrition, economic prosperity and job creation.

The initiative aimed to ensure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the aforementioned states and will analyse the catfish value chain, create  employment opportunities, foster capacity development, facilitate access to business investment and enhance competitiveness in the sector.

At it launched in Abuja, FAO representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Fred Kafeero said the project remains an excellent opportunity to reiterate the organisation’s commitment for a blue transformation of the catfish sub-sector, vital for food security, the economy and people’s livelihoods.

Kafeero said Nigeria remains a very important and strategic member state in the development and upgrading  of the catfish value chain.

According to the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria, by supporting the  catfish strategy, it strive to address the challenges faced by catfish farmers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond, including strengthening the capacities of African countries to sustainably manage their fisheries resources, enhance the competitiveness of the sector, and foster regional cooperation.

The delegation represented by Frank Okafor at the event said the union is committed to supporting Nigeria and other African countries in achieving their sustainable development goals through  technical assistance, capacity building, and financial resources to ensure the success of the African Catfish Strategy.

In his remarks, the permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture and rural development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe said the ministry is committed to further increasing aquaculture production by an additional 250.000 metric tonnes in order to meet domestic demands and reduce fish import.

Overall, unlocking the catfish value chain in Nigeria is a task that requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, including the government, farmers, researchers, and the private sector. With the right strategies and interventions, the catfish industry can become a significant contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth and development. It’s time to unlock the potential of the catfish value chain and reap the benefits that it holds.