SETTING UP BACKYARD FISH FARMING

The following conditions are necessaries before establishing fish pond,

1)    SITE SELECTION: Site selection involves the choice of best site based on necessary conditions like, a piece of land through which a perennial stream flows. The site should be on a fertile and clay soil to prevent seepage of water. It should have a valley with narrow neck and at a fairly open area.

2)    SURVEYING: Detailed survey of the chosen site should be carried out in order to determine the height of the pond, volume of the earth to be used for dike, total water surface area, volume of water in the pond or embankment.

3)    CLEARING AND STUMPING: This involves the removal of thrash, cutting of trees and removal of stumps.

4)    CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS: Dams is usually constructed across the stream. Material used in the construction should be of good quality. Clay soil should be used for dam construction because of its ability to hold water.

5)    CONSRUCTION OF CORE TRENCH: This involves the removal of the soil or excavation. It is positioned at right angle to the dam. Such dam should be made with consolidated stones or cement walls.

6)    CONSTRUCTION OF SPILL WAY: Spill way is positioned at one end of the dam. Wood and wire-meshed screen should be used to construct the spill way.

7)    IMPOUNDMENT OF THE POND: This involves the filling of the pond with water by opening the monk board of the reservoir. This leads to the release of water and flow to fill the pond.

8)    LIMING: This involves the addition of limestone or calcium carbonate powder to the sides and bottom of the pond to seal pores and prevent water loss. Liming also reduces acidity of the pond water and encourages the growth of plankton. However, liming is done before filling the pond with water. The lime materials should be left for four weeks in its dry state.

9)    POND FERTILIZATION: Fertilizer encourages the growth of planktons{fish food}. Pond fertilization is done by pouring organic fertilizers such as poultry droppings, cow dung or the use of inorganic ones like N.P.K. or Super phosphate. Pond fertilization should be carried out 15 days before stocking pond with water.

10)         POND INOCULATION: This is the introduction of proper planktons species into the pond. This is done by obtaining some water from a plankton rich pond and pour into a newly fertilized pond. When the pond water begins to turn green, this green water indicates the abundance of natural food for the fish. To keep the water green, fertilizer is added into the pond every week.

11)         STOCKING OF POND: This is the introduction of proper baby fish called FINGERLINGS or FRIES into the pond. The pond is stocked at the rate of two fingerlings per square metre. The fingerlings  should not be poured into the pond, rather, the container should be placed gently into the water and the fingerlings allowed to swim out into the water pond themselves.