Why 2026 Could Be a Breakout Year for Nigeria’s Catfish Agropreneurs
Industry stakeholders say 2026 is shaping up to be a strong year for catfish agropreneurs, with expectations of increased profitability, expanding markets, and sustained sector growth.
Africa’s rising population, urgent efforts to address childhood malnutrition, and stronger global demand for protein-rich foods continue to boost confidence across the catfish value chain. Projections from the World Bank put Africa’s population at 1.5 billion by 2030, while Nigeria is expected to reach 230 million people. With fish providing about 40 percent of Nigeria’s protein intake and a domestic supply gap exceeding 50 percent, the outlook for catfish production remains highly attractive.
The Akwa Ibom Fish Farmers Association (AKWAFAN) has highlighted strong prospects for fish farmers in the coming year. The association emphasizes that collaboration will be vital to maximizing available opportunities.
“Members must remain steadfast, united, and committed to their cooperatives, as collective strength remains the key to unlocking greater opportunities in the value chain,” the chairman noted.
Okon Amah, chief executive of ProDave Integrated Farms and Services Limited, also points to the sector’s widening potential.
“Protein is the new oil, as fish farming remains an agribusiness with high turnover. It continues to offer short production cycles, predictable cash flow, and scalable margins when feed efficiency and biosecurity are properly managed,” he noted.
He added that value addition is a major revenue driver.
“Additionally, agro-processing activities such as fish smoking, filleting, packaging, grain milling, and oil extraction reduce post-harvest losses and significantly increase revenue per unit. This is why governments and development banks like the African Development Bank (AfDB) are aggressively investing in Agro-Processing Zones,” he added.
In Kaduna, farmer Elizabeth Uloko shares similar optimism.
“Currently, a kilogram of catfish is cheaper than beef or chicken, and its affordability, coupled with strong demand for protein source, makes it a profitable venture for farmers in 2026,” she shared with this reporter.
Investor interest in aquaculture continues to grow, boosted by increased funding from the AfDB and other international financiers. New technologies such as aquaponics, agritech systems, and modern processing equipment are also gaining ground, improving efficiency and creating new income streams for producers and processors.
Global demand may experience slight moderation, however, as China accelerates its efforts toward food self-sufficiency in 2026, according to Rabobank.
Risks and solutions
Despite the positive outlook, the sector still struggles with high operating costs, insecurity, and a shortage of skilled labor. A report from the World Aquaculture Society indicates that farmer training could deliver major improvements in productivity and profitability, although reaching farmers in remote areas remains difficult.
“The most important component that will make a significant impact at this stage is the provision of skills and information,” the report stated.
“However, sending many African trainers to speak to farmers is certainly a logistical nightmare, as accessibility remains a major challenge,” it added.
Amah also warns that key risks persist.
“Most common risks in aquaculture include climate stress, high input costs, post-harvest losses, and insecurity, which remain real threats to the business,” he stated.
“However, these risks can be reduced through cluster production, building cooperatives for scale, and investing in storage, processing, and branding,” he added.
David Yaji, chief executive of DavYaj Farms, underscores the importance of market planning.
“The easiest way to guarantee profits is to secure a ready market before completing a production cycle, in order to prevent losses,” he stated.
