The youth and fish processing

While some engage in farming, some are into processing and packaging of processed items. Yet, still, some engage in the whole value chain, starting from farming to processing, packaging and marketing of products.This reporter caught up with a group of young Nigerians who, in spite of their meagre resources, went into fish smoking and selling […]

While some engage in farming, some are into processing and packaging of processed items. Yet, still, some engage in the whole value chain, starting from farming to processing, packaging and marketing of products.
This reporter caught up with a group of young Nigerians who, in spite of their meagre resources, went into fish smoking and selling business.
They smoke fresh fish, using local method, and sell to their customers along the Abuja-Keffi expressway.
This group of young men from Katsina State shared with Daily Trust the experiences of the business, their vision, aspiration and the major challenges that they face. But they refused to reveal what they earn, taking that to be the secret of their business.
Yakubah Isa, 24, has been in the business of smoking and selling fish for last six years, since he came to Abuja from Katsina.
He said: “I came to see friends selling fresh fish but I noticed that some customers were asking for dry or smoke fish, that was how I picked the interest to go into processing fresh fish into smoked fish.”
He stressed that the business has assisted him to take care of his family back home in Katsina State, saying that “it is a worthwhile business.”
Isa told the reporter that he buys fresh fish sometimes from Kado fish market or from fish farms around the area to process into smoked or dry fish.
According to him, the prices of the fresh fish are dependent on their sizes, ranging from N350 to N700 per killogramme.
“Once it is dried or smoked, I don’t sell it in Killogrammes but in baskets, which goes for between N1, 500 to N2, 500, depending on the size of the fish and the basket.”
Mohammed Tukur Ibrahim, 26, said the fish business which he joined over seven years ago has helped him to achieve a lot, notably by sending his younger brother to school in Katsina.
“This fish business, to be honest with you, I thank God because of the money that I get here. It is from this money that I to send to my parents and other family members. So my prayer is for God to bless the business some more.”
According to him, the existence of places like Zimbabwe-a popular drinking place in Uke, on the outskirt of Abuja, along Abuja-Keffi Expressway-around them boosts his business, making him to join the sale of smoke fish with that of fresh fish because of the demand by those who prepare fresh fish pepper soup and roast fish for guests who usually congregate in the area especially during the weekend.
“If I get the sort of money I desired, I would have expanded this business,” he pointed out.
Asked what other things he wants to expand his business, Ibrahim said he needs a modern fish drying equipment and a shop where he will engage the services of other young men to help market the products.
“Everything in Nigeria today can only be done through money, you know. Getting a loan or even borrowing money from people is a problem. Except if you have somebody close to you, who is willing to assist you, otherwise, forget it.”
He lamented that most of the youth like them who are willing to do something to get more money into their pockets, find it extremely difficult to have access to credit facility, saying: “That is why you have insecurity everywhere because these youth don’t have anything doing. Where they are willing to start something like us, the money is not there, and government is not even looking at them.”
According to him, getting a credit facility will enable them do businesses that will generate more income for them and their family members, adding: “Those of them that have people in government or people who are close to the politicians get somethings at the end of the day. But for poor people like us, it is only God that is helping us.”
He advises young men in the town who are idle to defy every odd and get up and start something that will give them money and refrain from engaging themselves in any acts capable of eroding peace in the society and bring disgrace to their parents, instead of honour.
Baba Ali, 31, is the leader of the group. He told this reporter that he has been in the business for over ten years and recorded many successes. He added that most of their customers come from within and around Abuja.
“To be honest, smoking fish enlarges our pockets and we thank God for that,” he said.
Ali stated that the major challenge facing them is lack of modern fish drying equipment, adding: “We wish to also have a packaging machine, which will enable us to package our smoked fish in cartons. If we can get this equipment, even on loan, we will be very happy. But for now, we have to use the local method of drying and smoking fish.”
Asked whether they have ever applied for loan somewhere or knew about the funds meant for small scale businesses from Bank of Industry, he said he was not aware of such funds. He added that they will be willing to receive any credit facility that will help them expand the business.
“There are so many young people here who are willing to join in the business but they lack the money to start.”
But AbdullahiUmaru, 20, expressed strong desire to also start a fish farm, saying: “Many of us here are also willing to go into fish farming, but the resource is the major problems. That is why we choose to do this for now.”
No doubt, the strong desire and commitment shown by this group of young men in the business, any form of assistance that can be given to them must be useful to the sustenance and growth of the business and create employment for some of the teeming unemployed youth.