SELECTING POND SITES.

1.     Considerable care should be taken in selecting pond sites. The benefit of a good location includes economy and construction, EASE of operation and PRODUCTIVITY. Although no two farms are exactly alike, however observe the following factors when selecting sites

i.                    Ease of drainage: either by gravity or by use of much pumps.

ii.                  Freedom from flooding: especially from overflowing rivers or tidal creeks.

iii.                Former use of sites: former crop land worked on heavy pesticides is to be avoided.

iv.               Proximity to ‘serious’ crop farm: avoid locating on the downhill slope of a farm Appling chemicals.

v.                 Economic of construction: this has to do with land purchase should it be on good level land free of tree – expensive!  Or the cheap rolling land with trees.

vi.               Proximity to market.

vii.             Noiseless location.

         Recent development has shown that agriculture is one of the major way out   for the production of cheap animal protein especially in the developing part of the world, Nigeria in particular. The high cost of fishing output as a result of naira devaluation in Nigeria further accentuates this verdict.

        As more people become aware of this economic scenario, people, fishermen inclusive are shifting their investment in favour of fish farming. This development necessitate the need to critically examine the feasibility of this relatively new food producing venture vis-à-vis technical knowhow a viability

       There are different modes of aquaculture practices many with their various relative advantages and disadvantages to one another. Stagnant fish pond culture took a lead among fish farming techniques being practice in Nigeria. However, special peculiarity and the need to find a more competing protein producing venture than poultry and piggery informed the use of more modern techniques for fish culture.

          As the awareness grow much bigger among the elites in the urban center of the country, most of them wish to maximize land for highest yield in fish production closed water recirculating system is certain the deal technique under the circumstances, the high technicality, the need for close monitoring and constant power supply leave a little more to be desired in running this lucrative venture successfully. Hence, the idea of a simple water flow system as a less cumbersome and less risky device to support or to start before graduating into the full scale water  recirculating system. The system if well managed is expected to yield not more than ten times what the ordinary stagnant fish pond will yield.

          This write-up has given the basic principle involved and makes an attempt of what the financial commitment is likely to be for a beginner. The main major consideration apart from capital out lay is good water source and good drainage facility among other lesser factor. By and large, the probability is more than 70% that one will not regret putting down money for such venture.