Nigeria is the largest aquaculture fish producer in sub-Saharan Africa, but it’s still not producing enough to meet demand. The country needs more than 3 million metric tons of fish each year, yet current production is less than half that. And one of the biggest challenges? Affordable, high-quality fish feed. That’s where U.S. soybeans come in.
There’s a new partnership between the United States soybean industry and Nigeria to help strengthen fish production and boost access to protein-rich feed. The Memorandum of Understanding recognizes the significant role that high-quality soy-based feeds play in achieving regional aquaculture sector growth and success.
United Soybean Board Director Nancy Kavazanjian, a Wisconsin soybean farmer, tells us how this collaboration not only supports young aquaculturists abroad but also builds long-term demand for U.S. soy — a timely conversation as our largest soybean buyer, China, is boycotting U.S. beans.
Fish feed is considered a bottleneck to the future growth of Nigerian aquaculture.
“USB has invested in World Initiative for Soy in Human Health’s work with young aquaculturists because it lays the foundation for increased U.S. soybean meal demand and for our crop to play an even greater role in global food security,” says Kavazanjian.
She spoke at WISHH’s Aug. 19 event at Sejfarms Consult Limited that convened top Nigerian aquaculture leaders.
“WISHH’s program allowed me to highlight how U.S. soybean farmers take great care to grow, harvest and transport our soybeans, using sustainable methods that help protect the environment, enrich our soils and produce soybeans with high-quality protein that contain the essential amino acids needed for human and animal health.”
WISHH is also working with feed manufacturers and other businesses to grow Nigeria’s aquaculture feed sector. This remains underdeveloped, largely due to high production costs. Feed is the largest single cost in fish production, often 60-70% of a farmer’s costs.
Many of WISHH’s activities are in the southwestern part of the country, which accounts for over 75% of feed mills in Nigeria. A Nigerian fish farm that worked with WISHH’s aquaculture technical team increased its feed use by 326% (equates to 235 MT) and increased fingerling production by 500% (now producing 1 million fingerlings).
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