Chief  Fishery
Officer, Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP),  Mr. Bulus Goswen, has said that the
collapsible fish pond is a “huge boost” to fish farming in the country.

Goswen told our correspondent in Jos that the innovation had
come at a time when fish was “highly needed”, in view of the rising demand for
fish as a major protein source.

He said, “Fish business is becoming increasingly popular;
the supply of fish has not been able to meet the massive demand.

“This new innovation where fish is grown in plastics had
eased the activity and will greatly increase production.

“It has the potential to attract new entrants into the
business as it has made fish farming cheap and simple.”

Goswen explained that the collapsible tank or pond did not
require one to construct concrete fish ponds with cement and other materials
that were usually expensive.

“Unlike the concrete pond that must either be abandoned or
destroyed when relocating, which would make an investor lose a lot of money,
collapsible thank is user-friendly.

“It can be detached, collapsed and taken to a new location
to be set up again to continue the business when the farmer is relocating,” he
said.

He added that with this scientific innovation, people can
“culture” fish almost everywhere.

“Collapsible pond has made it easy for people to culture
fish around their houses, in bedrooms, sitting rooms or veranda. Even people
living in upstairs are not left out,” Goswen said

According to him, the ponds are of various sizes, and the
number of fish harvested depends on the amount stocked.

He said that “about 1,000 fingerlings” can be reared to
table size in an average sized pond.

“After stocking the pond with fingerlings or juveniles, in
about four months, one can harvest fish, each weighing between one kilogramme
and 1.5 kilogramme.

“A fish of about 1kg goes for about N700 in the market; the
price increases with size. If the right things are done, profit can be as high
as 40 per cent,” Goswen said.

He called on fish farmers to be open to innovations and
embrace new techniques to ensure maximum return in fish farming.