Ouagadougou: Fish farming, or pisciculture, is emerging as a highly profitable sector in Burkina Faso, offering rapid returns on investment, according to Dr. Saïdou Santi, a lecturer-researcher at Nazi Boni University. However, Dr. Santi emphasizes the necessity of training for those interested in entering the field to prevent financial losses.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Santi highlighted the continuous strong demand for fish, which ensures steady sales for professional fish farmers. “Some producers have already sold all their fish before it even reaches maturity,” he noted, underscoring the sector’s profitability. He attributes this trend to the growing consumer preference for locally sourced fish, as Burkinabe people increasingly want to know the origins of their food.
Despite national production meeting only 14% of the country’s fish consumption needs, fish farmers are not facing a downturn in sales, Dr. Santi pointed out. He mentioned that members of the fish farmers’ union are thrivin
g due to the lucrative nature of their trade.
Dr. Santi shared these insights during an interview on November 13, 2024, as part of a press caravan organized by the Ministry of Higher Education through its communications department. He stressed the importance of proper training, advising potential investors to avoid self-education and instead seek formal training to prevent losses.
He cautioned that without mastering technical aspects such as fish management, feeding, and infrastructure maintenance, investors risk poor returns on their investments. Dr. Santi urged fish farmers to engage competent professionals in designing their investment projects.
With a typical production cycle of approximately six months, fish can be ready for sale as early as four months if they receive a quality diet regularly. Additionally, Dr. Santi recommended staggered production to ensure continuous sales: “If you have six ponds, instead of stocking them all at the same time, stock two ponds per month,” he suggested.