SUPPORT
SERVICES, LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
SUPPORT SERVICES
The
type of support services available to see producers depend on the mandate and
terms of reference of the service provider as well demand from clients
themselves. The following organizations assist seed producers in various ways:
(1) Federal Department of Fisheries,
(2) States Fishers Divisions
(3) States Agricultural
Development Program,
(4) Private exdt6ensionists/consultants,
(5) Nigeria Agricultural Credit and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) AND other financial
institutions,
(6) Fisheries based Research Institutes and
(8) Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Project (AIFP).
LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
As
explained above, the seed industry only benefits from generalized fisheries and
legal framework that affects adult fish industry. The umbrella national
fisheries legislation is the Inland Fisheries Decree No. 108 0f 1992 and the
Marine Fisheries Decree of 1991. The provision is such legislation are directed
mainly to wild and capture fisheries which are regulated through licensing.
However, export or import of live fish (including seed) is carried under the
authority of the Minister of Agriculture State require registration of
premises where any commercial activity (including seed production) is carried
out. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decree of 1988 also recommended
the conduct of EIA studies for activity that may impact negatively on the
environment, e.g. intensive water recirculation seed production systems which
generate a lot of ammonium liquid and gaseous waste discharges and any land
area up 50 ha
ECONOMICS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS
ECONOMICS
Fingerlings production is a basic
aspect of aquaculture necessary to ensure a continuous supply of seed and
stocking. For any production system, evaluating the associated economic
viability is expected. At the end
of such analysis, it will become clear if such a production system is
profitable or not.
Since profitability in fingerlings production
is dependent on the volume of production, large-scale producers are more
favored with higher ROI despite having high initial capital outlay and as long
as it is supported by competent technical management. In addition, due to the
enormously wide gap between demand and supply of seed in Nigeria, the future
belongs to large-volume producers. Fish farmers are generally convinced that
they make more money on fingerlings than table fish production and there is
higher profit in hatchery operation than fish farms. Many existing fish farms
are grossly understocked as a result of non-availability of seed. O ptimal stocking of existing farms can lead
to substantial increase in fish production.
KNOWLEDGE GAPS
There are several information and
knowledge gaps in determining the correct status of the fish seed industry of
the domination of the enterprise by the private sector. One of the bottlenecks usually encountered is the difficulty
in obtaining accurate production figures either in terms of investment or
revenue. At best, the computed figures are estimates based on the extrapolation
of data collected and collated from easily accessible AIFP cluster farmers. The
level of interaction and networking among various stakeholders in the industry
is still not the best. In addition, because of the poor funding of fisheries
research in Nigeria, there are many aspects of seed production technology,
marketing and distribution which need to be closely looked into and addressed.
The area of development of standard manuals for the local production of the
seed of various indigenous species is still lacking as those in operation
presently are based on overseas publications and are only been adapted to local
situations. That is why a manual like
this is written to help to guide the farmer, be it seed producer, fish farmer
or consumer.
CALL 08032861326 FOR HELP AND CONSULTANCY.
