Fast Growing and Hybrid African Catfish

Boosting Aquaculture with Resilient, Fast-Growing Catfish Hybrids

Fast Growing and Hybrid African Catfish" is developed to enhance freshwater farming in Sub-Saharan Africa. This technology involves the selective breeding and hybridization of two catfish species to create a superior hybrid offspring (Hetero-Clarias). The process of hybridization requires hormone-induced egg release in female catfish and the collection of seminal fluids from male catfish, subsequently combined to produce the hybrid.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: No impact

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No 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

Problem

Scarcity of Quality Fingerlings.
Challenges in Reproduction and Energy Expenditure.
Quality of Water and Environmental Health in hatchries.
Lack of Knowledge and Skill in hatchries Operations.
Difficulty to maintain specific temperature ranges for optimal growth.

Solution

The Hetero-Clarias hybrid exhibits superior growth rate, higher survival, and greater hardiness compared to the parent species.
Certified hatcheries provide a secure means to increase local supply of fast-growing and hybrid catfish.
The produced hybrid catfish is sterile, allowing it to channel energy primarily into growth, resulting in better feed conversion and growth rates.
Knowledgeable and skillful hatchery operators, with potential training for fish farmers in processes like hormone-induced egg release and handling seminal fluids.

Key points to design your project

The fast-growing and hybrid African Catfish technology offers numerous benefits, particularly in food security enhancement, and climate resilience. By integrating this technology into your project, you can take advantage of its potential to positively impact farming communities and mitigate the effects of climate change.

To integrate this technology into your project, consider the following activities and prerequisites:

Conduct awareness campaigns among farmers to educate them about the benefits of cultivating fast-growing and hybrid African Catfish for improved food production.
Ensure equitable access to quality fingerlings and provide financial support for local suppliers and smallholder farmers to encourage investments in fast-growing and hybrid African Catfish farming.
Select or construct a pond in an open place free of flooding with direct sunlight,
Provide a reliable source of quality water,
Purchase matured and fecund improved breed of broodstock or fingerlings and
Supply well-balanced feed that is free of aflatoxin and contaminants.

Estimate the quantity of fingerlings needed for your project, considering a technology cost ranging from USD 0.025 to 0.09 per gram. Additionally, since the technology is accessible in various countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, include delivery costs to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if applicable.

Consider engaging a team of trainers to provide comprehensive training and support during project installation, including costs for training and post-training assistance.

Develop communication materials such as flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts to promote the benefits of fast-growing and hybrid African Catfish farming.

For better optimization of the technology, consider associating it with Pond Liners to Save Water and Ease Maintenance Hapa Nets for Mass Fingerling Hatchery Production technologies

You need to collaborate with agricultural development institutes and hatcheries to implement the technology effectively in your country.

Cost: $$$ 0.025—0.09 USD

per gram of Catfish fingerlings

ROI: $$$

2500—3500 USD

Feed inputs for 8600—10000 Catfish fingerlings

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Benin	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	Tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
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.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Selection of Fertile Broodstock: Choose female catfish weighing 1 to 4 kg and at least one year old. Select male brooders weighing 2 to 3 kg, capable of fertilizing eggs from 20 females.
Egg Maturation Process: Inject female catfish with ovaprim hormone or use freshly extracted pituitary to promote egg maturation.
Egg Fertilization: Collect seminal fluid (milt) from male brooders. Fertilize eggs in a narrow container with water temperature maintained above 25°C. Eggs hatch within 20 to 36 hours.
Larval Care: Larvae do not require feeding until three days after hatching, as they feed on their yolk sacs. Provide aeration for active fry, ensuring they receive sufficient oxygen.
Feeding Regimen: Feed larvae for 5-8 days with cultured zooplankton or finely powdered shrimp, fishmeal, or special feed.
Water Quality Management: Maintain high water quality for fish health. Administer monthly antibiotic treatment to ponds to reduce infection risks. Ensure pond water pH remains between 6.5 and 9.0; apply limestone if pH drops below 6.5 and total alkalinity and hardness fall below 10 ppm. Maintain dissolved oxygen concentrations at 5 ppm or higher for a successful farm.