A veterinary doctor, Dr Kingsley Umeayor, has called on Niger Delta people to embark on intensive fish farming so as to become the largest fish producers in the country.

Umeayor told newsmen  in Warri that governments of the Niger Delta states should assist their youths in efforts to transform the region into a fish-producing region.

He said that the region was richly blessed with human and natural resources. “Apart from crude oil, agriculture is another viable resource given to them by God and if properly developed, the region will be the food basket of the nation,’’ he said.

Umeayor said that the fish farming would thrive in the region because of the nearness of its soil to underground water.

“If you want to construct an earthen pond, you will not go far into the ground before you strike water; unlike in the East, where water is hard to find,’’ he said.Umeayor said that fish farming was one of the stable farming systems that would not disappoint the farmer if well taken care of.

He said that once the pond, whether earthen, concrete or surface systems, were put in place, the fishery itself would not be an expensive venture, depending on the scale.

The veterinary doctor said that in the region, the pond system was prevalent due to the nature of the soil, adding, however, that there were some rules to observe so as to stem fish mortality.

He said that the most dangerous time for the fishes after hatching was at their tender age, particularly when transferring them from the brooding point to the pond.

Umeayor said that this was because the fishes were very tender and a change of environment would affect them, adding that those that survived that stage stood the chances growing to maturity. “Fish are not like birds that you must give all the necessary immunisation and vitamins as they are growing up and producing since their main sickness was viral infections.“

For fish, once you uphold the standard feeding regime and start them well, none of the fish will die and you will harvest all of them.

“The fishery rules include not overcrowding fishes in the pond because of their carnivorous nature as the bigger ones would eat up the small ones.

“Overcrowding also induces some kind of stress syndrome and their immunity will go down. Fishes have their own diseases but the mortality rate is not high.

“As long as you start them well with good feeds at their tender age, you may not need to give them any drug before harvesting, unlike poultry,’’ he said.

Umeayor, however, said that fishery was a good, viable business because it had a ready market with appreciable profits.

He said that poultry was equally good, adding, however, that it required more attention although one could start it with smaller capital.

Umeayor said that starting a small-scale fishery would cost about N500, 000, while a large-scale one could cost up to N1 million.He said that fish harvesting ranged from four months to six months.