Empowering Aquaculture with Affordable Feeds
Formulation and Pelleting of Low-Cost Feeds" is a critical aquaculture technology that aims to reduce the high cost of fish feeds in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fish farming operations often allocate a significant portion of their budget, around 60% to 70%, for imported or overseas blended feed ingredients. This technology facilitates the local production of affordable, nutritionally balanced fish feeds. By leveraging extrusion and pelleting techniques, it enhances feed stability, nutrient delivery, and ease of handling. This innovation has the potential to significantly boost the profitability and sustainability of fish farming businesses in the region.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Production of 1 ton
Equipment of production
For Manufacturers:
Manufacturers can leverage the "Formulation and Pelleting of Low-Cost Feeds" technology to produce affordable, nutritionally balanced fish feeds using locally grown crop and animal products. The manufacturing process involves extrusion and pelleting techniques, which improve feed stability, nutrient delivery, and ease of handling. The primary customers for these manufacturers would be agro hub dealers, fish farmers and farming cooperatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main costs for manufacturers would be the procurement of raw ingredients and equipment, production costs, and marketing expenses. The total cost of producing and marketing pelleted fish feed is around US $1,200 per ton, which can then be sold for up to US $1,500 per ton. This suggests low profit margins but high sales volumes. As for licensing requirements, it's recommended to contact the solution holder or the organization for detailed information.
For Resellers:
Resellers play a crucial role in the distribution of the technology. They can help reach a wider customer base, including fish farmers, agro-dealers, and extension agents. Resellers can source the manufactured feeds and identify efficient transportation methods and suitable storage facilities. Establishing strong partnerships with manufacturers and transportation providers is crucial for resellers. The main costs for resellers would be the purchase of feeds from manufacturers, storage and transportation costs, and marketing expenses.
For Users (Fish Farmers):
Users, primarily fish farmers, can benefit significantly from this technology. It enables them to access affordable, nutritionally balanced fish feeds, which can improve fish growth and farm profitability. The technology also reduces pollution in aquaculture ponds by improving nutrient transfer and feed stability. The main costs for users would be the purchase of fish feeds and operational costs associated with fish farming. Users can also benefit from training and support provided by manufacturers and resellers. The utilization of this technology increases the chances of producing higher quality crops meeting standards, with little to no aflatoxin, all at an affordable cost. As key partners, users need sellers of this technology. The cost structure, one Kg price of this technology, is set at $1.2-2 USD. The recommended dose is 10 kg per hectare. Users need to estimate the profit realized with the use of the product.
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive high
Under 18: Positive medium
Women: Positive low
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released
Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health
Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility
Water use: Same amount of water used
Country | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|
Benin | Tested | Adopted |
Botswana | Tested | Adopted |
Cameroon | Tested | Adopted |
Côte d’Ivoire | Tested | Adopted |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Tested | Adopted |
Djibouti | Tested | Adopted |
Equatorial Guinea | Tested | Adopted |
Ethiopia | Tested | Adopted |
Kenya | Tested | Adopted |
Liberia | Tested | Adopted |
Madagascar | Tested | Adopted |
Malawi | Tested | Adopted |
Mozambique | Tested | Adopted |
Nigeria | Tested | Adopted |
Republic of the Congo | –Not tested | Adopted |
Rwanda | Tested | Adopted |
Senegal | Tested | Adopted |
Sierra Leone | Tested | Adopted |
South Sudan | Tested | Adopted |
Sudan | –Not tested | Adopted |
Tanzania | Tested | Adopted |
Uganda | Tested | Adopted |
Zambia | Tested | Adopted |
Zimbabwe | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | ||||
Humid |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
Source Quality Ingredients: Ensure that locally sourced feed ingredients are of high quality and competitively priced, taking into account toxin levels and substances affecting palatability and water stability in feed formulation.
Grinding Raw Materials: Use a hammer mill to grind the raw materials into a fine powder. Smaller particle sizes are preferable as they enhance digestibility, cohesiveness, and water stability. Sun or oven dry the materials before grinding, and ensure uniform particle size for different ingredients.
Mixing Ingredients: Homogenize the ingredients by mixing them manually to create a mash, or for large-scale feed production, use a mechanical mixer.
Adding Binders (if needed): If the cereals in the formula do not provide adequate binding, consider adding cassava starch or a similar product as a binder.
Moistening Raw Materials: Just before extrusion, moisten the raw materials to ensure they adhere together.
Wet Extrusion: Use wet-type steam pelletizers for extrusion, which helps gelatinize starch, further improving the nutritional value of the feed.
Pellet Size: Ensure that the diameter of the pellets is at least 4 millimeters, suitable for most adult fish.
Last updated on 22 May 2024