Some fish farmers in Lagos have decried the low production of catfish fingerlings due to the cold

Some fish farmers in Lagos have decried the low production of catfish fingerlings due to the cold weather in Lagos and its environs.

Speaking in Lagos on Monday, the farmers said poor pond management and low quality of brood stock were the other factors retarding their business.

Alhaji Quadri Raheem, Chairman, Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria, Badagry chapter, said that adverse weather conditions had hampered successful hatching

Another fish farmer, Mr. George Obodo, who specialised in fingerlings production at Ijegun, said that he had been experiencing low production for the past 20 days.

He said that sometimes, the fish larvae would come out but die after two weeks as they could not withstand the adverse weather.

Mr. Patrick Adewumi, a fish farmer in Isheri, said that he was forced to temporarily close down his farm after incurring a loss of
N25,000 due to the unfavourable weather.

A female fish farmer at Idimu, Miss Florence Okuwe, said that she was frustrated by the poor fingerlings production since the rains stopped.

“I was producing about 30,000 pieces of fingerlings every two months before the August break but now, I barely produce two thousand pieces,” she said.

Another farmer, Mr. Supo Ogundele at Ayobo area of Lagos, said that he had been experiencing unsuccessful hatching in the last three weeks.

“With the way things are going, I am afraid Lagos will experience scarcity of catfish in the nearest future,” he predicted.

Alex Ubaru, another farmer, who specialises in rearing fingerlings to a moderate size, said that he used to stock about four thousand pieces of fingerlings every four month.

“But now, I can barely stock two thousand pieces as a result of the scarcity of fingerlings due to the harsh weather,” he said.

Chief Suraju Lawal, the Sole Administrator, Able Mind Fish Farmers Association, Ijegun, said that many farmers exposed their hatcheries to unfavourable weather.

He advised them to situate their hatcheries in an enclosed place and adhere to the rules of pond management.