Consultant urges fish farmers to treat aquaculture like a business
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Aquaculture Consultant Prince Okumah has urged aspiring fish farmers in the country to approach the sector with a deliberate business mindset rather than treating it as a hobby.
Aquaculture commonly known as fish farming is one of the fastest growing sectors in Ghana’s agricultural industry. With the country facing increasing demand for fish and dwindling marine fish stocks, aquaculture offers a sustainable solution to bridge the supply gap, reduce import dependency, and create jobs, particularly for the youth.
Speaking on the Business Breakfast on Zed, Mr. Okumah highlighted that while agriculture and aquaculture are high risk sectors, they can yield significant success if pursued with focus, planning, and intentionality.
“Aquaculture is high risk sectors. But if you’re determined and intentional, and if you treat it as a business, you will succeed,” he stressed.
Mr. Okumah pointed out that research is the critical first step for anyone looking to enter the fish production space
He advised prospective aquaculture entrepreneurs to secure buyers for their produce even before beginning operations.
“You must ensure that someone is ready to buy your fish before you start producing. If you don’t have that assurance and you go ahead to produce, you could lose all your investment,” he warned.
The aquaculture consultant noted that many fish farmers risk losing their products and money because they fail to identify a reliable market or buyer ahead of production.
Mr. Okumah emphasized that treating aquaculture as a business offers great potential for success and stressed the importance of carefully feeding fish according to their behavior instead of a fixed schedule.
He warned that both overfeeding and underfeeding can negatively impact fish growth and farm productivity while stressing the need to secure fish farms against unauthorized access and losses.
“Feed provides the energy necessary for growth, particularly during the early stages when fish are still young,” the aquaculture consultant added.
