Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA): Report on a scoping study of fish feed ingredients in Nigeria

Abstract

From June to December 2023, a scoping study of feed ingredients was conducted in 65 local government areas (LGAs) in 22 states cutting across Nigeria’s 6 geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The study started with an extensive literature review to collate appropriate reports and peer-reviewed articles necessary to provide adequate information regarding feed ingredients in Nigeria. A pre-survey was done with the aid of three partners—the Department of Fisheries (DOF), the Agricultural Development Program (ADP) and the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFFAN)—which were located in the different states selected for the study. This was to enable the research team to gain a practical overview of the possible ingredients in the markets located in the study areas and to plan properly before making field visits to avoid duplication in sample collections. Field visits were conducted and contacts were established with relevant stakeholders, such as ingredient producers, ingredient suppliers/marketers, feed millers and fish farmers, using oral interviews and semi-structured questionnaires developed by the research team in Nigeria.