The Privatisation of Government Fish Hatcheries: A Positive Step Towards Self-sufficiency in Fish Fingerling Production in Nigeria

Abstract

"There are over 200 fish hatcheries in Nigeria with at least two hatcheries in each state of the federation but unfortunately over 50 per cent of these hatcheries are either non-functional or function far below their optimum production capacities. About 85 per cent of the non-functional hatcheries belong to the government (either Federal, State, Local Government or Institutions). The major problems associated with the non-functional hatcheries include poor management due to low attitude and lack of commitment to government work, inadequate funding, inadequate infrastructure, poor maintenance of hatchery facilities, high cost of feed inputs, problems of differential growth and cannibalism in catfishes which result in poor fingerling harvests."