Igwe, H.O.

Orji, R.C.

English

Aquatic Commons

Oguta Indoor Fish Hatchery was
.1 established in 1974 by the fornier East Central
State of Nigeria Government. The fish hatchery
was established to produce fish fingerlings for sale
to fish farmers and for stocking the Oguta Lake.
Owing to financial constraints the hatchery could
not take off till 1985, when the former Kainji Lake
Research Institute now National Institute for
Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) New
Bussa, entered into a collaborative arrangement
with the Imo State Government. The collaborative
arrangement lasted for 9 years. During the period,
fish fingerlings were produced and sold to fish
farmers in Imo State and neighbouring States,
With the withdrawal of NIFFR from the
collaborative arrangement, the fortunes of the fish
hatchery nose-dived and finally grounded to a halt
in 1997. The situation remained until in the year
2002 when the Nigeria Agip Oil Company,
rehabilitated and reconstructed the fish hatchery.
The fish hatchery was commissioned in March 1l
2003 and is capable of producing 600,000 fish
fingerlings per annum. The facilities available in
the modernized fish hatchery are listed inAppendix
1, Abiikwa-Umuoborn
The Abukwa-Umuoborn fish hatchery was founded
in 1981, and is fully owned by the Imo State
Government. It was partially developed as an
outpost of the NIFFR concept, of the erstwhile
Babangida regime. Fish fingerlings were first
produced in the fish hatchery in 1989. The facilities
available in the tish hatchery are listed inAppendix
IL Since the two fish hatcheries were established,
informed opinions have consistently made
suggestions for the efficient management of the
two projects. Consistent among the suggestions is
that;
Imo State Government could optimize
productivity from the two fish hatcheries through
entering into collaborative arrangements with
Fisheries Research Institutes in this country. This
suggestion is based on the facet that Oguta Indoor
fish hatchery was made operational in the first
instance through collaboration with the Nigerian
Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New
Bussa(1985 1994).
In pursuance of this suggestion, the Imo State
Government has already signed a Memorandum
of understanding (MOU) with the National
Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research New
Bussa on the 17t of June 2002. Through the
collaborative effort it is expected that fish
fingerlings will be massively produced at the
Abukwa-Umuoborn fish hatchery project. A
resident fish breeder has already been posted to the
Abukwa-Umuoborn State.
From experience, the collaborative Fisheries
Research Institute provides the following
services:
(a) Technical know how and upgrade the skill of
the staff in the fish hatchery station, and also
upgrade the skill of fish farmers and fish
hatchery operators in the host state.
MANAGEMENT OPTONS FOR OPTMIZNG THE POTENTIALS OF
OGUTA NDOOR F5H HATCHERY AND ABUKWA UMUOBOM
FH HATCHERY: COLLABORATION OR PRWATSATON
BY H. 0. IGWE* AND. RAPHAEL C. 0RJI
*Ministry ofAgriculture and Natural Resources, Owerri.
Departinent of Fisheries, Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
38
(b) The Institute, as need arises provides
hormones and sometimes fish breeders for
fish fingerling production.(a) And (b) are
very essential elements of an MOU but other
details are often worked out between the
collaborating bodies.Privatization has two
DISCUSSION
If the infrastructure is in a good condition and inputs
are available, the conditions are favorable for
collaboration with an Institute. The advantages
include:
(a) Massive production of fish fingerlings is
assured considering the technical knowhow
possessed by Iiistitute staff.
(b) Revenue is generated for govermnent.
(c) Staff employment is assured.
(d) The skill of staff is upgraded if the
infrastructure is in a good condition but where
there is no fund to make it operational, the
lease option is feasible. The problems
normally encountered during a lease period
are:
(a) Failure to meet the revenue target agreed on
between the government and the
entrepreneur.
(b) Misuse and abuse of the infrastructure.
Sometimes the infrastructure is left in a worse
facets; Partial privatization may take the form
of leasing out the fish hatchery facility for a
period negotiable with the private
entrepreneur. During the period, the
entrepreneur pays an agreed amount to the
government. Depending on performance, the
• condition after the lease.
(c) The fate of staff already on ground will be
negotiated.
The second facet of privatization is where the
govemnient hands off the project and transfers
ownership to the private entrepreneur. This
option is normally chosen when (a) there is lack of
fund to invest the project and or (b) where there is
no commensurate return on investment.
(a) The option of full privatization is
recommended if fund is a constraint
(b) There is poor management
(c) Profit motivation is the cardinal objective
of the government, especially in a
distressed economy.
Finally, this paper has highlighted options for
the management of the Oguta Indoor fish
hatchery and Abukwa-Umuobom fish hatchery
and is meant. to generate discussions on the way
forward for the two projects
APPENI)IX I OGUTAINDOOR FISH HATCHERY
1. An Indoor Fish Hatchery with 12 No troughs modernized.
2. Office Block
3. 9 Outdoor concrete tanks
4. 2No water pumps
5. 4 No Semi-Concrete Production ponds
6. Overhead Water Tanks
7. Guest House
8. Intermediate Staff Quarters
9. Raceways some lined with polyester
10. Conference Hall.
39
APPENDIX II
FISH HATCHERY PROJECT, ABUKWA UMUOBOM
This project belongs to the Livestock/Fisheries
Department of the State Ministry of Agriculture
and Environment and was established in 1981.
The project is located in three major sites covering
a total of 3.8 hectares of landmass. TWO of the sites
have been developed (i.e. (1) Hatchery, Admin
Block and Guest House complex (2) Production
Ponds Unit). Work is yet to start on the third site.
This project is one of the functional fish
hatcheries/fish farms in the state and was full of
activities at the time of this visit.
Facilities and Present Status
- Indoor hatchery with 12 breeding/spawning
tanks and raceways. All the tanks are
functional
- (Raceways 8 Nos 2m x 0.5m each Spasing
Tanks4Nos2mx im)
- 7 Concrete Nursery Tanks (Outdoor)
(3 Nos4.5rn and 4.5)
- (4Nos4.5mx2.8rn)
- All the tanks are in good fonn but not fully
utilized as at the time of the visit.
- 7 Earthen Nursery Ponds with the following
dimensions.
- 2Nos(23mx13m)
- 3Nos(i4mxi2m)
- 2Nos(l5mxl3m)
The ponds were used for various purposes
including: —
- Management of spent brooders
- Rearing of fry to fingerlings
- Management of broodstock
Tilapia production
- Production Ponds Unit (6 Nos) with the
following dimensions;
- 3 Nos (46m x 25rn)
- 3Nos(30x17rn)
Only tilapia species (about 5,000) was stocked in all
the ponds.
Water Pump I-louse and Plant of 7.5 KVA
(Functional)
40
Electricity Generating House with electricity
generating set (Plant) of 12.5 KVA.The plant
has minor faults.
• The Feed Mill Block with three
compartments
* Feed Milling Unit
* Pelleting Machine Unit
* Gas Drier Section
• The feed mill block has not been equipped
with the appropriate machine and is,
therefore, not yet functional.
• The building is, however, in good shape.
• The Administrative Block with 3 rooms for
project officer, store and
• Technical staff office.
• The block is in good shape and the offices are
furnished.
• The Guest House consisting two
bedrooms, one sitting room, a kitchen and a
toilet. The guest house is furnished.
• Staff strength: 6 skilled staff and 8 casual
labourers.



Management options for optimizing the potentials of Oguta indoor fish hatchery and Abukwa Umuobom fish hatchery: collaboration or privatisation

http://aquaticcommons.org/853/1/FISON2003_038-040.pdf

Management options for optimizing the potentials of Oguta indoor fish hatchery and Abukwa Umuobom fish hatchery: collaboration or privatisation

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