INTRODUCTION: The Chinese proverb ‘if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but if you teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime’ clearly emphasizes the importance of fish production in any area as long as people live there. . Fish production in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area has been mainly based on production from nature, ie the rivers and streams in the area. The way of life of people in any area and their eating habits have an impact on fish production in the area.

Most of the settlers are peasants who, however, have very little interest in fishing since they did not inherit it from their parents as some argue. In fact, fish serves as a cheap source of protein for people, adopting aquaculture as a means of increasing their production is not common, relying heavily on imported frozen fish. A quick look at the fish outlets in the area, particularly the local markets, attests to this fact. Statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicate that the demand for fish in Nigeria has been increasing from 1990 to date. Therefore, there is a need to increase fish production to meet population growth and increased demand for fish. The findings reveal that, being tropical, Nigeria has virtually uninterrupted year-round environmental conditions for the uninterrupted growth of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Water temperatures are optimal, annual precipitation is adequate to optimal in more than 95% of the land area. Water availability is optimal to adequate. Other essential relevant factors in fish production identified are the slope of the land, the texture of the soil and even socio-economic factors such as the availability of inputs and a willing market that are optimal. Zangon Kataf is located within the geographical area known as the North Center or Middle Belt which has all of the factors mentioned above. Rain is the main source of water supply for the rivers and streams that flow from one settlement to another. Fish species commonly caught in the wild are Clarias, Tilapia, Alestes, Synodontis and occasionally Malapterurus electricus. These are known to be acceptable to consumers. As stated above, FAO statistics show that there is an increasing demand for fish every year in Nigeria, central bank statistics show that local production is not adequate.

Therefore, it is very important that complementary fish production be adopted or improved to meet current challenges. Prospects for fish farming abound in Zangon Kataf LGA. There are suitable locations such as the stream beds in the area, flat/soft land or neglected land in the area around rivers and clay soil farmland currently used for crops in the area, other essential factors have been mentioned earlier in this document. Seasonal ponds can be built in stream beds and clay soil farmland that fill with water during the rainy season, while ponds are made near rivers throughout the year to ensure water supply. Due to the low economic power of most of the natives, the construction of earthen ponds will be a much cheaper practice than the construction of concrete or plastic ponds, as is the case in most small-scale fish farms in the country. .

Fish farming practices are usually the same all over the world, the fish farmer freely decides or selects which one to adopt based on the surrounding situation. Farmers in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area are able to successfully practice monoculture where only one species is grown. The species most preferred by the consumer is Clarias for its meat and flavor. Therefore, the farmer can earn a lot economically when he decides to cultivate this species. With a lot of enlightenment, farmers can engage in polyculture.

With increased demand for food, integrated agriculture is a step in the right direction. It ensures maximum utilization of the limited resources available, thereby reducing waste. It also makes food available throughout the year and at the same time makes the farmer self-sufficient. The vast farms flooded with clay water can be dug into ponds, especially during the rainy season, to grow fish and rice. [fish cum rice]. Both products can be harvested at the same time, that is, when the rice is harvested. A form of integrated farming that will be viable in the Zangon Kataf area. Fish and pig farming. Zangon Kataf LGA falls in the middle belt and pig farming is, in fact, very common. The pig is a highly prolific animal and its combination with fish increases its economic efficiency, also its ecological efficiency since waste, residues and leftovers from the kitchen, aquatic plants are often used as food. Their waste can be used as fertilizer and as a food source.

There are problems that have hampered fish production in the Zangon Kataf local government area, both from wild fishing and fish farming. The apparent lack of interest from settlers in the area has been a major setback. Most farmers will prefer to engage in crop production rather than fishing. In a situation where your ancestors did not pass down fishing as an occupation or hobby to their children, it is difficult for people to take an interest in this sector. That’s not to say they don’t eat fish, but most of the fish supplied is imported, over-reliance on these fish imports has its attendant problems. It makes people more reluctant to engage in any form of fish production, not to mention the loss of nutritional value of imported products.

The catch of fish from the main rivers in the area is dominated by migrant fishermen who come mostly from the neighboring towns of Kano State. These fishermen have established settlements near the fishing sites and come mainly during the dry season, that is, the cultivation periods between the months of December to April, they return to their homes when the rains begin to cultivate crops. However, fish production is still low as the fishermen are few compared to the size of the river. Most of the fishing gear used is the old ones – old gears they learned to use from their predecessors, these are hook and line, fish traps made in the shape of baskets, squash/squash and a few use cast nets, occasionally They use fixed lines. The number and size of fish caught are partly determined by these, resulting in low productivity. Most of the people in the area are rural dwellers who generate low income mainly from the sale of agricultural products.

The cost of construction, obtaining seeds and food, etc., is quite high for these farmers. The security issue is also a major concern in this area. Most farms are not secured with fences or any other form of security, so poaching is a common occurrence that will be a major setback for any fish farmer who is into fish farming. The problem is further aggravated for farmers who will not be able to farm close to home, as most farmland is far from their homes. Another challenge for this sector is the lack of awareness that seems to be the decisive factor for starting fish farms in the area. Many fish farmers lack basic information about fish farming that might spark their interest in participating. For some, the inadequate information passed to them has killed their interest in such matters, information such as water for culture must be changed daily or every other day, concrete ponds must be built and the like. The art of raising fish seemed too demanding at the time and so some became discouraged.

Fish production in Zangon Kataf LGA has been low mainly due to the under-utilization of the water resources available in the area for this purpose. Water resources are used for other purposes, such as irrigation, washing, bathing and the like, with little or no attention paid to fishing. Lack of interest in fishing as an occupation or hobby makes it difficult to produce fish in the wild. They face the problems of meeting their basic needs for food, adequate shelter, clothing, minimum nutritional requirements and, of course, health.

The growing demand for food, including fish due to the increase in population, requires the inhabitants to improve the sector. The adoption of extensive low-input fish farming, in particular the integration of fishery and livestock systems, will greatly help resource-poor farmers. This will provide the protein requirements of the people while increasing their marginal gains for a better standard of living. -Fish farmers should form groups that can access financial subsidies from the government or other financial institutions.

Such collective efforts can also be embraced by small communities that now use these funds to farm fish or are used to buy or make fishing boats and other fishing gear that can be used by farmers/fishermen, even if it will be on loan. Agricultural extension workers and all those involved must be involved in a broad understanding of the benefits of fishing and fish, both from nature and from fish farms. This will go a long way in arousing people’s interest in the industry. These extension workers will be in a good position to correct suspicions about fishing in general.

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