Earth fishponds provide commercial production at less cost – Farmer

During a chat with our correspondent in his farm near Ilaro township in Yewaland, Ogun State, Oni explained that there is no better way of fish farming than the earth fishpond, noting that it provides a more natural way of breeding different species of fish with less cost. According to him, earth fishpond is capable […]

During a chat with our correspondent in his farm near Ilaro township in Yewaland, Ogun State, Oni explained that there is no better way of fish farming than the earth fishpond, noting that it provides a more natural way of breeding different species of fish with less cost.
According to him, earth fishpond is capable of preventing the risk of common diseases that could impede the growth or survival of fish in a concrete fishpond environment.
Pastor Oni who retired from the banking sector to set up his farm, said he has nothing against concrete fishpond being set up in people’s compounds for personal or domestic use by families that enjoy eating fish and people who breed fish in their backyard to make pepper-soup at restaurants, he pointed out that the earth fishpond remains the best option for anyone who planned to go into fish farming for commercial purpose.
Pastor Oni stressed that since the earth fishpond provides a more natural environment for fishes, the breeds are usually weightier and healthier adding, “when it comes to taste, one can hardly differentiate between a fish from the sea and fish breed in an earth fishpond. The reason is that both were nurtured under the same environment. Its harvest is usually more and faster compared to concrete fishpond breed.”
He advised those planning to go into fish farming for commercial purpose to make use of earth fishpond, reiterating his confidence in earth fishpond advantages and the profit margin.
Oni also tasked the teeming unemployed graduates and jobless able-bodied youths that are still searching for white-collar jobs not to continue wasting their time by embracing agriculture, especially fish farming.
“Fish farming does not require millions of naira to begin. With between N100,000 and N200,000 one can start the business depending on your area of settlement and seriousness of the farmer.
“I strongly believe that with a lot of commitment to nurture the fish, one is sure to recoup the investment with a reasonable profit in a short while and this could be re-invested as a way of growing the business,” he said.  
Meanwhile, Oni has appealed to state governments and corporate bodies to complement the peoples’ efforts to ensure food security in the country by initiating agricultural schemes to empower those who are interested in agric activities, noting that some farmers are finding it difficult to expand because they lack the financial backing.