I have been searching for Land for fish farm for the Past 7 months was not an easy Task. Infact that is when I knew that even with Your money in Nigeria You might still not get what You want or better still be swindled off Your money. I was taken to different places Kubwa, Kuje but none of them fit what I wanted or the budget was alarming I was almost giving up before my Wife who is a Lawyer referred me to a man that just bought land and needed their services to help write a "power of attorney" and "Sales Agreement".
At fist I was hessitant and then I booked for a meeting to see the place and when I saw it I immediately fell in Love with the place. My spirit leapt for Joy when I saw it. Lik that feeling You have when everything is going right.
The location of the Land was not far from the major express about 7 mins drive, sorry the name of the community is "SABURI" it is before Dei Dei for those familiar with abuja. Like I said 7 mins drive and it was an urban settlement with rural ethics.

So after booking the meeting we went to meet the chief of the village and I declared my interest in getting a land for "farming purpose" and he told his sons they took me to the bush and measured out a Land of 250X150 Ft and said their asking price was 1Million Naira. Note (this one millionaire is cheap for the amount of land to be given to me. But under the law that money is seen as settlement not that You really own the land as You have to process other documents with FCDA and AMAC). The Igbo man in me priced the land and got it for 650,000 naira only. I came the following week and paid the money and was issued a letter from the chief's palace stating the amount of land I was given their process makes the land authentic. when You are taking the paper for processing.

Before I proceed let me tell You when You want to start Fish farming and You are a Novice the first people You meet would always want to milk You till You are dead like literarily be careful. So the next step I took was to survey the land which cost about 60,000 maximum but the people who brought me to the community said the surveyor they used cost 150,000 and I paid the money but after that I cut them off because they were after making money and not after helping a fellow farmer like them.
After Survey I cleared the land, (we even caught a big rabbit while clearing, since any rabbit post makes it to front page) with about 20,000 removing most of the cash crops in the way of my business (Note: when I was buying the land I negotiated all of the cash crops into the purchase of the land so as to avoid the community coming back to collect more money from me for clearing).
After that I fenced the whole land even though I did not budget for it and it was quite expensive but this saved me alot of hussle I spent a total of 350,000 fencing the whole land including labour. I used wire net and galavanized steel pole to fence the ploes mearsure about 6Ft and cost 600 for one and I used 100 with a spacing of 8ft apart, while the net cos 13,000 for 18M and I used about 16 nets. The importance of fencing Your land cannot be underrated as after I fenced people started coming up to say I took their land and then I told them If they had any problem with it let us go to the palace and settle it obviously they knew I would win and they all declined and I have my peace now. There is no encroachment whatsoever. Nothing irritates more than having to face land grabbers when You are doing business.

After fencing We started building the Farm house and digging the pond simultaneously yes it cost money either you go hard or You go home.
The Farm house cost about 420,000 to build a store with a room and roofed it cost more than budgeted because of the Land topography swampy and had to fill them with alot of stones so we avoid future complications. The ponds cost about 40,000 naira each to dig and bag, I dug 4 ponds which cost me about 160,000. all this took a week and 3 days to achieve as long as You keep the money rolling.

nice one

After digging the pond and bagged all the edges I bought the following

Nets- 6000 I used 2 which is 12,000: this net is used to protect the fish from predators such as frog, Snakes, birds......
Four 6 inches PVC pipes one cost 3,500 I bought 4 which is 15,000: This is the exit way for the water to come out of the pond through a flow through system.
2X2 wood cut into 1ft size to be used as pegs to hold the net.
Industrail salt 1,500 naira: This is used to lime the ponds to kill bacteria, reduce PH, drive away predators and also bring out nutrients from the soil. The Salt was used for the process called liming .

This is great. Entrepreneurship is the saving grace of youths in this uncertain economy. Fish farming is a good agribusiness to venture into, as long as you have the skills, knowledge, determination and wherewithal.

http://www.arkshore.org/tutorials/

Now after all of that I have stocked the pond with 18,500 pieces of Juveniles not fingerlings. Fingerlings are too fragile for earth pond and would require heavy sorting after one month. juveniles of about 4-6 weeks old were procured at 20 naira each from Kado market in abuja from a reliable dealer. From the market to the farm the fishes were transported and are now 1 week old with a mortality of 18 so far minus cannibalism but so far so good the fishes are active and have adapted to the environment and feeding pattern all thanks to God and no problem from the community.

Here is a video of the feeding of the juveniles. It is fun If You love the business



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsxP6xUV3WM

Nwanne jisie ike

That's a bush rat though....... Hope you guys enjoyed the meat.

Pls eh with the structure you have put in place, I perceive it's more cheaper than building cement block ponds.
Pls what is the depth of the pond?
how do you intend to harvest efficiently?

What was your total budget pls and has it accommodated all your expenditure?

lanre316:
This is great. Entrepreneurship is the saving grace of youths in this uncertain economy. Fish farming is a good agribusiness to venture into, as long as you have the skills, knowledge, determination and wherewithal.

Meen I must commend You guys, Your page guided me in some decision making and However haven't been to the market of late and need to buy a PH meter as Your tutorial said need to monitor the PH closely for very good result.

Kaykaymil:
Now after all of that I have stocked the pond with 18,500 pieces of Juveniles not fingerlings. Fingerlings are too fragile for earth pond and would require heavy sorting after one month. juveniles of about 4-6 months old were procured at 20 naira each from Kado market in abuja from a reliable dealer. From the market to the farm the fishes were transported and are now 1 week old with a mortality of 18 so far minus cannibalism but so far so good the fishes are active and have adapted to the environment and feeding pattern all thanks to God and no problem from the community.

Please correct the above, it's "juvenile of 4-6 weeks" not months.

Bubewilson:
Nwanne jisie ike

That's a bush rat though....... Hope you guys enjoyed the meat.

Pls eh with the structure you have put in place, I perceive it's more cheaper than building cement block ponds.
Pls what is the depth of the pond?
how do you intend to harvest efficiently?

What was your total budget pls and has it accommodated all your expenditure?

Bush Rat weighted close to 2kg it was lovely.
It is actually cheaper to run an earthen pond than a concrete pond in reality operational cost wise it is cost saving but geeing the land can be a problem as You have to move from Your comfort Zone unlike concrete that can be constructed in Your back yard.

Harvesting is easy Bro its almost like catching fishes in a river as You have to use nets and two people have to man the net try and read http://www.arkshore.com/tutorials/ You would get alot of info.

My total budget has been overshot by fencing though but it is all good need to secure Your investment as it is both real estate and Agriculture too see the budget so far but Feeding would eat almost that same budget as I am budget N120 for each fish to eat. 120x18500=2,200,000

Factors to try and mitigate which might arise

1. Security men:Another Important information is choosing a security Man and a farm manager can either make or break Your business as these two people are as important as the fishes You stock in Your pond. Security men and farm managers have been known to sell feeds to other farmers and sometimes harvest fishes to sell to the market behind the owners back be weary of this.
2.Mentor: Get a God fearing Consultant/mentor if You are new to fish farming as Your mentor can rip You off and make a lot of profit of You in the name of consultation.
3. Vet: Have a vet doctor on speed dial in the event of an outbreak even though You might be able to solve most of the problem with salt but let an expert do it though.

Kaykaymil:


Bush Rat weighted close to 2kg it was lovely.
It is actually cheaper to run an earthen pond than a concrete pond in reality operational cost wise it is cost saving but geeing the land can be a problem as You have to move from Your comfort Zone unlike concrete that can be constructed in Your back yard.

Harvesting is easy Bro its almost like catching fishes in a river as You have to use nets and two people have to man the net try and read http://www.arkshore.com/tutorials/ You would get alot of info.

My total budget has been overshot by fencing though but it is all good need to secure Your investment as it is both real estate and Agriculture too see the budget so far but Feeding would eat almost that same budget as I am budget N120 for each fish to eat. 120x18500=2,200,000

Thank you plenty plenty Sir.

MAAF:


Please correct the above, it's "juvenile of 4-6 weeks" not months.

Thanks Done

Kaykaymil:


Thanks Done

120 naira per fish till melange? cos I know its not possible to spend 120 till 1kg

dondo83:


120 naira per fish till melange? cos I know its not possible to spend 120 till 1kg

If You do foreign feed only 120 naira can get You to smoking size but if You alternate with local feed and some cost saving methods trust me 130 naira per fish You can 1Kg each.

Kaykaymil:


If You do foreign feed only 120 naira can get You to smoking size but if You alternate with local feed and some cost saving methods trust me 130 naira per fish You can 1Kg each.

Im in abuja and also into fish farming. I will like to learn the trick from you oh. how 120naira will feed a juvenile to 1kg. even with local feed is it possible to formulate at@120 /kg? I need your knowledge thanks

dondo83:



Im in abuja and also into fish farming. I will like to learn the trick from you oh. how 120naira will feed a juvenile to 1kg. even with local feed is it possible to formulate at@120 /kg? I need your knowledge thanks

Okai I can send You materials and video link on how to substitute so that Your fishes weight 1kg and not look like they would weigh 1kg

Kaykaymil:


Okai I can send You materials and video link on how to substitute so that Your fishes weight 1kg and not look like they would weigh 1kg

please i need your help with Labour to harvest my ponds call/whatsapp

Kaykaymil:


Bush Rat weighted close to 2kg it was lovely.
It is actually cheaper to run an earthen pond than a concrete pond in reality operational cost wise it is cost saving but geeing the land can be a problem as You have to move from Your comfort Zone unlike concrete that can be constructed in Your back yard.

Harvesting is easy Bro its almost like catching fishes in a river as You have to use nets and two people have to man the net try and read http://www.arkshore.com/tutorials/ You would get alot of info.

My total budget has been overshot by fencing though but it is all good need to secure Your investment as it is both real estate and Agriculture too see the budget so far but Feeding would eat almost that same budget as I am budget N120 for each fish to eat. 120x18500=2,200,000

I must commend you sir, for this well detailed report and analysis. Its more of people like you that are needed in this country, if it were other greedy individuals, one would be asked to pay. Thank you Sir.

adabsmith:

please i need your help with Labour to harvest my ponds 09038358800 call/whatsapp

Would send You their Number when You ready.

Kaykaymil:


Okai I can send You materials and video link on how to substitute so that Your fishes weight 1kg and not look like they would weigh 1kg

I will be very grateful. om you can send me ur email as well. regards

dondo83:



I will be very grateful. ceegee22000@yahoo.com you can send me ur email as well. regards

sent

Inspiring.

E b like farming is now the call that God answers, but this is what I study


Which crop will I produce with this

I have a boy u can consult for quick production.God bless ur haustling.

Nice one op, God will see your project through

quite inspiring. Me sef don begin reason how I take enter the world of agriculture.


E no bad if person use one small fish pond as a side chick to complement the main source.

good one