The Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN) has decried incessant increase in the prices of inputs and raw materials for fish farming.
The LASCAFAN President, Mr Sejiro Oke-Tojinu, decried the situation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
NAN reports that a tonne of maize, a major component of fish feed, now costs N600,000. It was N250,000 in recent past.
Also, a tonne of soybeans, which sold for N100,000 and below some weeks ago, now costs above N300,000.
Oke-Tojinu said that the rising cost of inputs had crippled activities of local fish farmers.
“As an association, the major challenge we face is incessant increase in prices of inputs, especially fish feed.
“It has been hard on the sector and has resulted in a lot of farmers closing shop because of high cost of production.
“The cost of running a fish farm is so high that many fish farmers cannot afford it; hence, the closure of some farms,” the LASCAFAN president said.
Oke-Tojinu said that difficulty in selling their fish outside Nigeria was another major challenge to the farmers.
He urged the Federal Government to reduce the number of agencies involved in the export of fish as well as create a conducive business environment for fish farmers.
“Marketing our produce is also a challenge we face as fish farmers. How can we produce and not be able to earn foreign exchange?
“The export processes for our produce are too rigorous.
“We need to have a one-stop desk where all the regulatory agencies can attend to all of the export requirements.
“Poor electricity supply has also been a challenge, we need stability of electricity to boost the cold chain of the Nigerian aquaculture sector,” Oke-Tojinu said.
