loyal readers' we recently shared about ''how to start a fish farmingbusiness and make money in Nigeria''
i also remember telling you that
fish farming business is capable of paying your bills and employing
you into Business full-time, am sure someone will probably be doubting
that fact but anyway if you doubted it today have come to you with a
story of a young graduate making millions from Fish farming business
in Nigeria.
Just stay put and read along,
Adenuga adeniyi Adedeji a
'24years old guy studied Animal production and Health at the federal
University of Agriculture, abeokuta and currently a post-graduate
student in Animal science majoring and having his degree in Animal
Nutrition and Biochemistry @ the University of Ibadan.
He is currently the founder and manager of Tepebo Farms in Ijebu-ode Nigeria.
MOTIVATION: Adenuju adeniyi Adedeji runs a fish farm at Isele - Ijebu,
near Ijebu-Ode and the farm is on 3 Plots of land with 14 concrete
ponds of different sizes with total capacity of about 15 tonnes live
weight catfish per cycle, a modern hatchery that can produce (100,000
fingerlings) and a processing shed to package smoked catfish young
Adenuga's interest in fishery was influenced by his background
training with all the support from both parents and siblings.
Adenuga said,
"My motivation for agriculture was from my father who
then was working with the Sunvit Agro Industrial Company, Agenebode,
Edo State (Leventis Group), which had a crop duster airplane used for
spraying and planting rice paddies then. My interest grew whenever we
travelled to the farm for vacation. And so while filling my Joint
Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) form in ss3, I chose
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production and Health,"
then was working with the Sunvit Agro Industrial Company, Agenebode,
Edo State (Leventis Group), which had a crop duster airplane used for
spraying and planting rice paddies then. My interest grew whenever we
travelled to the farm for vacation. And so while filling my Joint
Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) form in ss3, I chose
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production and Health,"
STARTING AND SUPPORT: For friends and relations, starting a farm was one of mixed
feelings, but his parents gave him their support all through. He said
that the interest had always been there, and so during breaks and
strikes, his parents did encourage him to visit neighbouring farms and
to have practical experience in poultry, piggery and aquaculture.
Immediately after his last paper in the university, he enrolled in an
aquaculture farm (Felimar Aquaculture Centre) to do menial jobs
without pay so he could know the rudiments of the farming and he
picked the necessary skills for fish farming business.
Adenuga added: "When I started the farm, the support and initial start-up
came from parents and then as the farm expanded, I took loan from a
church cooperative.
During farmer registration exercise and
enlightenment in my locality, I attended and met the permanent
secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs
Ibukun Odusote, and she was interested in what I am doing and from
there, I got three smoking kilns as support from the ministry."
Bigger farming plans:
"My plan for the project is to convert my present site to full scale
fingerlings production that will serve me and other farmers around
with good quality fingerlings. The plan is to expand to about five
hectares of land containing about 100 earthen ponds, cassava and
plantain plantation. So i want to diversify into rearing of livestock.
I currently have Kalahari goats from South Africa which I purchased
from FUNAAB and I intend to start a breeding project in upgrading
Nigerian indigenous breeds," Adenuga said.
The story of a South African, Vincent Mapeta, Adenuga said, made him
to realise that policy and support from the government could improve
lives of farmers, increase food production and create jobs to the
teeming youths.
MUST READ: HOW TO START A COMMERCIAL FISH FARMING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA | FISH POND
This, he opined, would make agriculture a profitable venture that
would encourage the youth, saying "if the transformation agenda of the
government can also follow this principle, that is, by getting young
people involved through training, making land available (Vincent got
access to about 40 hectares of land) and funds to young farmers'
expansion initiative, then our success story in Nigeria and Africa is
assured."
Mentoring
He emphasised the place of mentoring in agribusinesses, saying,
"Mentoring helps in the success of any business.
I didn't make many
mistakes as a result of those that mentored me. It is important to
share problems and ideas with colleagues or peers in the business. In
case I observe anything unusual on the farm, I just make a call.
Adenuga, who employs two regular hands and casuals during harvest and
processing, added that he was not even looking for paid job, for the
fish farming business was giving him high returns on the over N10
million investment.
He revealed that with good management of fish
farms, about 50 per cent profitability could be assured based on his
experience.
Writters's view: am sure you are inspired by the story of
this fresh brain Nigeria graduate infact if you can start before
graduating as a student in Nigeria, i advice you do, the earlier the better! Agriculture is the
source and life! To all in so doing you will have a better edge over your colleagues and the non-existing white collar jobs outthere won't bother you.
If you are inspired kindly share with your friends and motivate them to start something today.
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