Tombuh Divine Ngala* et Tangem Lucas Leku
Unit of Aquaculture, Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (Minepia), Cameroon
*Correspondence to: Email:dntombuh@yahoo.co.uk; tel: 0023766330000/675730100
ABSTRACT
The fish feed production sector in the Centre and Littoral Regions of Cameroon faces several challenges that affect the quality of the feed produced and the growth rates of the fish. The drying and storage process of the feed is inadequate, leading to spoilage due to high moisture content. Most of the fish feed production units have a moisture content that ranges between 10.5% and 18.3%, which is higher than the recommended 10% or less. The cost of production has increased due to the high prices of both local and imported raw materials, such as soybean, corn, fishmeal, fish oil, rice, and wheat. The use of well-ground raw materials in fish feed formulation is essential for ensuring the overall quality of the feed and the growth rates of the fish. However, during visits to fish feed production units, it was found that 80% of them did not use well-ground raw materials. The lack of heating units or worn screws in extruders resulted in inadequate temperature control during the extrusion process, which affected the gelatinization of starches and proteins, leading to poor pellet formation, increased feed waste, and reduced feed efficiency. The fish feed produced did not meet the nutritional requirements of the fish, with more than 80% of the local feed analyzed having crude protein levels less than 30%. The local fish feed production sector faces intense competition from imported fish feed, leading to market saturation and reduced profitability for local producers. The lack of low-cost and readily available raw materials was another challenge that the fish feed industry faced. The nutritional composition labeled on fish bags did not match the results of the analysis after assessing some fish feed production units. Additionally, the cost of local or domestic fish feed per kilogram ranges from 1000CFA to 1100CFA, while imported feed costs between 1200CFA and 1400CFA. Despite the higher cost, 70% of fish farmers in Cameroon prefer to use imported fish feed due to its better feed conversion ratio, which they believe promotes the growth of their fish species. The local fish feed production sector faces several challenges that need to be addressed to improve the quality of the feed produced and the growth rates of the fish. Statistical analyses show that the sector needs to focus on improving the drying and storage process, using well-ground raw materials, and ensuring adequate temperature control during the extrusion process. The sector also needs to address the issue of low crude protein content in feed meals, the lack of low-cost and readily available raw materials, and the competition from imported fish feed. The government needs to provide support to the local fish feed production sector to improve its competitiveness and ensure food security.
Keywords: Fish feed production, Cameroon, challenges, quality, and growth rates.