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Abstract:
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"A study was conducted in Abia State in 2002 to determine the status of fish farming in the state. The study was carried out with the use of questionaire distributed randomly as well as interviews with fish farmers. The study recorded a total number of ninety-one (91) fish farms. Out of this number, nineteen fish farms were Government assisted and are no more functional The remaining seventy-two were owned privately both individually and cooperatively six were non functional. Forty ponds were earthen while nineteen were concrete The sources of water include tap water, bore hole, streams, lakes and rain water. Sixteen of the fish farmers were full-time farmers while forty-three were part-time The fish species cultured include Tilapia, Clarias, hybrids of Heterobranchus and clarias, heterobranchus and heterotis. The result showed that major constraints include lack of capital, skilled personnel, predators, scarcity of fingerlings and Jack of inputs. Furthermore, the failure of government assisted fish farms, like other government establishmeuts-NEPA, NNPC, NITEL etc is a clear signal that activities that can best be done by the private sector be disengaged from Government."
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