PRODUCTION ECONOMICS OF AFRICAN CATFISH FINGERLINGS USING SOLAR OR GENERATOR POWERED RE-CIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEM

• B. Anyanwu-Akeredolu

  Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• M. L. Adeleke

  Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. A. Fagbenro

  Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• A. A. Dada

  Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

This study assesses the production economics of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings using solar-powered recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) compared with the generator powered RAS. The solar powered RAS was powered with two solar systems; a stand-alone solar panel mounted on four galvanized poles to power the DC submersible pump for pumping water from a borehole into storage tanks and the roof-mounted solar panels on the hatchery building to provide alternating current (AC) for a small submersible pump for water recirculation, aeration and lighting. The generator powered hatchery was powered using a 3kva mobile generator for pumping water from the borehole to the storage tanks and two smaller generators (1 kva) to power a submersible pump placed in the pump tank, an aerator and lighting bulbs. The results obtained revealed no significant differences in the water quality parameters in both hatcheries. Although the cost of investment/set-up was higher in the solar-powered hatchery than in the generator powered hatchery, the profit margin, benefit cost ratio and returns on investment were higher in the solar-powered hatchery. The study indicates great potential in solar powered hatchery system as a means to obtain fish seeds all year round with a higher profitability while maintaining a green environment compared with the generator-powered hatchery,

1. B. Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

   Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

2. M. L. Adeleke, Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

   Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

3. O. A. Fagbenro, Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

   Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

4. A. A. Dada, Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

   Aquatek Fish Farm Igbe, Owo, Ondo State. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

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