Fish is a very good source of protein, but its demand world wide is very high while supply is low. Fish farming is therefore a way of bridging this gap and increasing the protein supply to the average families who cannot afford the other expensive sources.
Small businesses can cultivate fishes using a cheap technology and low capital base. Artificial ponds may be expensive for a starter: but using other methods like the Geepee tanks could help to minimize cost. Geepee tanks are less capital-intensive; they are movable and easy to maintain: they do not require hard labour to set them up or to clean them up. Several of them could be set up to care for the various sizes of fish.
Why should I go into fish farming?
1. Fish is in high demand world wide and the supply can hardly take care of the high demand: Therefore going into fish farming promises to be a good source of revenue (both local and foreign)
2. It is cheap to start up: Fingerlings are affordable; Geepee tanks are not too expensive; their feeds are cheap. A bag of feeds can last for several days to a few weeks.
3. Growth is very fast: Unlike other farm animals that take several months or years to mature, fishes mature within a few months. The feed needed to raise a kilogram of fish is lesser than that required to raise other sources of animal protein.
4. Help is available: Agricultural extension services are available in some areas to help provide the needed training/assistance to the starter, to enable him know the basic things to do to make his farm well managed.
5. They are non-destructive: Fishes are non-destructive; they do not in any way contribute to the destruction of crops/plants around them, unlike the goat, sheep, pigs, cows etc which destroy foliage. They also do not destroy the soil texture since they do not posses hoofs. They only take up the space where the Geepee tanks are located.
6. Easy to control: Unlike the goat, sheep, cows, horses, etc, fishes are very easy to control as they remain in their habitat (tanks or ponds) and do not need to be driven from place to place. You do not need to use sticks or whips on them before they listen to instructions. You therefore do not get sapped trying to control the fishes.
7. It is needed by everybody: Some religions forbid certain animals, but fishes are hardly forbidden by anyone.
The use of fish is enormous thereby making it a very good source of revenue for man. They are needed by restaurants operators, snack makers, homes, biology laboratories, fast food joints, hotels, pepper soup joints, etc, and as a small business owner, you could supply fish to any of the above-listed areas and make lots of money from them. The market can not be fully exploited. Everybody needs fish and you have to supply to them to meet their demand and you in turn make money from it.
Joseph Ezie Efoghor is a small business manager with years of experience. For tips on how to grow your small business visit http://smallbiztricks.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joseph_Ezie_Efoghor
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