AGAINST THE ODDS: Building an Aquaculture Business in Nigeria as a Woman
Nigeria has enormous potential for aquaculture, but what does it actually take to build a fish farming business in an industry facing high feed costs, challenging operating conditions, weak purchasing power and questions around fish genetics and input security?
In this episode of The Lasgidi Farmer Podcast, Bukola Mustapha, CEO of Bukky Farms, shares the realities of building an aquaculture business in Nigeria after starting withjust 600 fish and growing to a production scale of around 30,000 fish.
The conversation goes behind the ponds to examine the issues shaping Nigeria's fish farming industry: fish breeds and fingerling quality, inbreeding, hatchery practices, feed security, rising production costs, pricing, profitability and the importance of knowing your true cost of production.
Bukola also speaks candidly about what it means to be a woman in aquaculture, from inequitable access to finance and the perception that fish production is a man's space, to the physical demands of farming and the pressure on women to focus on processing and value addition rather than production itself.
Her message is clear: women should be able to build businesses around the areas of agriculture they are passionate about. With planning, strategy, determination and the right niche, there is room to thrive.
The episode also features Dauda Elijah, an NYSC intern at Bukky Farms, who offers a young person's perspective on practical experience, agricultural internships, technology,postharvest losses, research, value addition and the opportunities available beyond primary fish production.
Together, their perspectives reveal a bigger question:
If Nigeria wants aquaculture to become a stronger source of food, jobs, investment and economic opportunity, what needs to change?
From fish genetics and feed security to women entrepreneurs and the next generation of agricultural professionals, this is an honest conversation about the realities and possibilities of Nigeria's aquaculture industry.
