Business-Buying And Selling-How To Make Money93 Comments

Smoked catfish business is an opportunity waiting to be tapped. How to start dried and smoked catfish business in Nigeria. Venturing into dried and smoked catfish business is indeed a big business with unimaginable potentials as those doing it are making serious money from it already.

Apart from having fish ponds which many has discovered to be like having an automatic ATM at their backyards, dealing on dried fish or smoked and packaged fish has become a serious income generator for those doing it in the right way. You can sell to the open market or supply to the supermarkets and stores.

SEE ALSO: How To Start Beads Making In Nigeria

With smoked cat catfish business opportunity in Nigeria, some office workers who got exposed to the income potentials of the business are busy today packaging numerous orders for their teaming customers both home and abroad. Yes! You can as well export it oversea and make quick dollars currency.

Starting smoked catfish business is very simple and even simpler than operating a fish pond which comes with additional stresses of making ponds, getting fingerlings, rearing and feeding them to market size which takes at least three months before selling them out to others in the market.

Dealing on dried and smoked catfish is a business with wider appeal. Put simply, all that is required for the business is: buying, processing, smoke drying it, packaging it in a branded polythene bag and having them out to the public.

Starting A Smoked Catfish Business Requires The Following

1. Get a smoke/drying machine from a good welder. The prices are usually dependent on the size of your choice but the assurance is that you can get it locally made if you are just starting out.

SEE ALSO: How To Import Products From China

As your business increases, you can now go for more sophisticated ones of between N300-N500k and the good thing about this is that it is capable of drying good number of fishes quicker in an internationally acceptable way.

Again, as a big player in the market, you will also need NAFDAC approval which doesn’t really cost much if you follow the normal process in obtaining your permit. You have to follow the above steps for your products to be widely accepted, but if you are contented with playing small in the big industry, you may not bother implementing all those important strategies.

The Profit Potentials In Smoked Catfish Business

A kilogram of catfish goes between N400 to N600. Each of these costs about N100 to have it processed and packaged.

You can retail to your customers at the rate of N1,500 or more. You can as well take your goods to some supermarkets at the rate of N800 or N1,000 while they sell at any price of their choice.

Assuming that in a whole month, all you were able to dry and sell to your customers are just 1,500 packs and each sold at a moderate price of N1,000, now multiply that by 1,500 while you remove your cost prize per one which may be not up to N600, add up what you get and then compare it with what top average office workers are earning per month.

SEE ALSO: How To Make Money From Bell Apple Farming

You see, there is good money to be made from smoked catfish if you handle it like serious business locally not to talk of expanding your business beyond the shores of this country.

With a place to use as your factory preferably in your compound with a good shade for your machine, going into the business may not even cost you up to N500,000 as such amount is capable of getting you an (ISO) machine for the drying and sealing of the fishes, a business name with CAC, and NAFDAC approval.

When you have all this done, be rest assured that your products would be accepted anywhere in the world!. N/B, Do not take your fish to the supermarkets with hopes of receiving your cash immediately, no they will not pay you unless your goods are sold but if you are able to meet up with the required standards and have your fish properly garnished, hygienically packed, appetizing to the eyes, that on it’s own would turn your products to hotcake in the markets making even the supermarkets to be paying you in advance.

As we talk about the profit potentials in dry catfish business, the demands for Nigerian dried catfish are even more in abroad but the simple truth is that the local market demands has not yet been met.

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93 Comments

  • ayodele March 23, 2016

    Dear writer, i really like the hints in which you have dropped online.
    i am very interested in the smoked fish drying business but i am not so sure where i can purchase the equipment you made mentioned of. at the same time i have taken my time to go round to see where others process their’s
    and i am not encouraged even though i know they are making a lot of money but the whole process is not clean and healthy to eat and i would like to do something better with international standards. i would like in details where i can get the dryer done and where i can see with my eyes the process if possible.
    i reside in Port Hacourt and i do not mind travelling to lagos if possible

    • kem March 24, 2016

      i can get it if u contact me, and which in port harcourt you want it,i was in ph too agree road,just got two of 150kg for my friend leaving in trans amadi, we have , 50kg, 100kg, 150kg 200 kg and biggest so far , drop you line and i will contact you ok?

    • kem March 24, 2016

      With choice oil collector and temperature guage will also be fixed in your smoking kin. 250kg, you can also get, but is quit big but can still be transorted

    • Oladimeji October 29, 2016

      Hello,
      Pls I need to know how much it costs to get an. I SO fish drying machine of about 200g capacity.
      Kindly reach me on’

      Thank you
      Oladimeji

  • John April 5, 2016

    Pls I’m interested in the smoking machine as well. Pls sms your contact

  • Bidemi April 7, 2016

    Can the oil collected during smoking be re-used or sold?

  • bolaji April 20, 2016

    Well ken I also sell 100kg to 250kg smoking kiln around Lagos, Ogun and Oyo state. Mine doesn’t have temperature regulator and oil collector. Its strictly charcoal powered but can also be cooking gas powered as well. Anyway am interested in your kiln as well.Mr Ayodele, there are very clean and hygiene ones in southwest here. Anyway, seeing is believing.

    • ayodeji November 2, 2017

      can i have your contact please?

    • Oluma November 6, 2017

      Pls can I have your contact??? I currently sell dey cat fish. But I am planning to go bigger by dryin it my self…pls contact me .

      • elonna otty February 3, 2018

        hello oluma. please i would love to have your contact as regards cat fish.please contact me. tahnks

  • oluwasemipe April 24, 2016

    Pla I Lived In Ilorin Kwara State How Can I Get Smoking Machine

  • Chisom April 26, 2016

    I reside in Lagos and im quite interested in getting a modernised smoking kiln. i would like a medium size and the cost. You can contact me via email on

  • Ese May 5, 2016

    How do we go about export of the smoked fish please ? Any link ? Association or ?

    • AfricanExport November 24, 2018

      Good day,

      We are an European company already, legally importing and selling Nigerian products to Europe, which is the real potential for business. Our clientele is based in Malta, Spain and The Netherlands and growing exponentially. Before the end of the year we wish to introduce high quality dried catfish in larger quantity. If interested kindly contact ASAP for we need many smaller or several larger producers.
      ripirobert(at)gmail.com

  • ledor May 9, 2016

    Goodday! Am interested in the fish drying machine. I live in Asaba Delta state. My farm is not very big but expanding soon -I want to ssart drying what I have as a starter

  • Alawode Babalola May 10, 2016

    That Was Very Interesting. Pls Can You In Box Me With Your Contact Numbers Either Through SMS With My Number So I Can Have A Chat With You On The Issue Of Drying Machine And Others Thanks.

  • gozie May 11, 2016

    how much 4 50kl

  • Chima May 14, 2016

    Hello, My Name is Chima I served NYSC in Bayelsa State, While serving I discover that the dried fish is very lucrative business. I tried the business for complete 6 month’s. currently I want to expand the business but I don’t have enough fund. Please if you are interested in partnership call me so that we can strategies on how we can start. I have access to some other resources here in bayelsa state.

    • Chima May 14, 2016

      Hello, My Name is Chima I served NYSC in
      Bayelsa State, While serving I discover that
      the dried fish is very lucrative business. I
      tried the business for complete 6 month’s.
      currently I want to expand the business but I
      don’t have enough fund. Please if you are
      interested in partnership call me so that we
      can strategies on how we can start. I have
      access to some other resources here in bayelsa
      state.

      • Valentine October 4, 2017

        I want to partner with you chima

      • Oge February 4, 2019

        Hello Chima.
        I live in Bayelsa too, can we meet up?
        WhatsApp 08066633707.
        Oge.

      • idubor rachael August 29, 2019

        Chima how can i get involved. I live in benin city. We can have outlets in different part of the country. if possible u can come down to train us.

      • pst Torbaaki September 5, 2019

        chima, i want us to partner together for the catfish business i bayelsa, i have contacts for it in taraba state at cheaper rates. my whatsapp 08057527500

    • Ikechukwu June 28, 2016

      Chima i will like to partner with you on the dry fish business

    • OlisaNzekwu September 21, 2016

      Hi… Chima can I have your number…. I’m interested in this and would need technical assistance

    • Tobi September 21, 2017

      chima, please how can i get your contact.

      • sir Henry September 23, 2017

        I am sir Henry, pls chima I will like to get your contact and see how we run the show

    • Seun February 11, 2018

      hi chioma I need someone here in Ibadan….i want to start learning dried and smoked fish business and looking for someone to partner with….please can anyone whatsapp me with my number 07064956853…..thanks please now

  • chiddy May 15, 2016

    Nice write up but not much information. Thou I have a simple question and will appreciate your favorable response. What’s the difference between a dryer and an oven.

  • Adeyemi Grace May 15, 2016

    How do I get the machine. I am a fish farmer in Ilorin and I planning to expand my business in d area of packaging. Pls how can I get d 250kg kiln and how much is it? Grace Adeyemi

  • abdul May 18, 2016

    please how do I get the machine, I v a fish farm ,lives in Abuja..

    • Peter September 5, 2017

      Please sir, I stays in abuja. I really want to know more about fish farming. Please mentor me .08065267184

  • Onyedika Danoo May 21, 2016

    Pls am in dare need of smoking kiln that is capable of smoking 200 fishes per batch am living in Anambra bt i don’t mind coming to lagos yo pick it up.

  • morufu May 31, 2016

    am maruff, where can i get automated fish smoking maching that can contain up to 200 fishat a go. u can email me with your contact at

  • Sola June 4, 2016

    Please who get me the exterrior and interior snapshot of this dry kiln machine to have the idea of its look out….am having interest in purchasing one

  • Ade June 6, 2016

    No one is giving contact for the kiln!

  • Ikechukwu June 28, 2016

    Please I need a Fish Drying Machine.

  • Douglas June 29, 2016

    I have the mind of going into the fish business too. I have carried out some feasiblility study, but I need more idea. I can upload the drying machine for us to see. Or add me to ur whatapp if I can’t upload it to this platform.

  • donnie June 29, 2016

    Is there a reason why you didnt leave your no?
    I recently contacted someone to supply a 500-1000 capacity fish drying& smoking oven with oil collector, regulator that works with gas and coal. You may send me an email if you can meet these specs at good price. And did you say packaging?

  • John July 12, 2016

    Need 50 kg fish dryer in Kaduna.
    Please contact me by phone or below email.

  • Abimbola July 25, 2016

    I can dried your fish for you in an hygienic condition for 150/ kg. Contact me on.

  • George Ugwu July 26, 2016

    Pls i have a small farm at sango area of ogun state. How can i get the kiln. How much is it. How does it work.

  • PeterNdObikwelu August 19, 2016

    I reside in enugu and i’m very much interested in getting a modernise drying machine .pls how do I go about. I would need the big size like 200kg kiln . I need to know where and how much it will cost me. Thank u

  • throne August 27, 2016

    hello please i really want to start this up pls can you give me the price for the smoking and also the drying machines.

    • apostle October 25, 2016

      There are different sizes of fish drying machines constructed locally in Nigeria. kindly get in touch with me with your specifications as regards the length, width, height and if gas, electric and charcoal-powered or a combination through.

      Regards
      Shola

      • Melford December 21, 2017

        @Apostle i need ur phone number. I want to buy the locally made drying machine. My number is zero eight zero six zero five one seveen two two five.

      • Adiotu Jesinta May 30, 2018

        I am in Nasarawa state, I need the dryer that can take up to 200 catfish. Charcoal oven.

  • ebonycrystal March 24, 2017

    I’m very much interested in this business and how can I get the drying machine and would also love to learn how it’s done. Thanks

  • dedicated April 1, 2017

    does it mean that no body knows d price of d machine? none was able to answer that many asked question

  • chefiyke April 9, 2017

    I want the iso fish dryer. How much is it? And where should I get it?

  • kerry July 20, 2017

    Please dear writer I need 150 kg fish dryer am in ananbra state

  • OguikeOluchiViola August 29, 2017

    I need the fish drying machine, how do I contact you Kem

  • Japheth September 12, 2017

    Pls can i get more detials on the exporting of dried fish and also getting the iso certified smoking machine thanks.

  • Dr. Okezie September 29, 2017

    I need the ISO certified fish drying machine and information on export procedures.

  • Jayjay October 29, 2017

    My wife wants to bring well packaged Tilapia to Nigeria from The West Coast. She wants to package it in a way we haven’t seen anyone do it.
    Do you think she can get to sell each Kiko at a price of up to 3,000 Naira?

    We intend to get her all the nafdac papers necessary. Do you think we can make profit? How much is a Kilo of it now?

    • AfricanExport November 24, 2018

      Good day,

      For 3000 N will be very hard to sell in larger, feasible quantities, if the packaging is nice and attractive you can enter into the European market.

      We are an European company already importing and selling Nigerian products to Europe, which is the real potential for business. Our clientele is based in Malta, Spain and The Netherlands and growing exponentially. Before the end of the year we wish to introduce high quality dried catfish in larger quantity. If interested kindly contact ASAP for we need many smaller or several larger producers.
      ripirobert(at)gmail.com

      • Edward Hanson January 22, 2019

        i supply dry cat fish and other african food

      • Rachael July 7, 2019

        I come from and reside in Bayelsa, I have good sources for the fish business not just catfish but other delicious fish as well. Call me if u need help for supplies 08167868247

  • ALPHONSUS OLUCHI December 5, 2017

    i am a female corp member, i had the opportunity of being trained on our NYSC orientation camp on dry fish. i saw the processing. I saw that it is a viable business. Sir please can you send me your mobile number number

  • Emma January 3, 2018

    I am very interested in this.
    Your contact please

  • Paul chukwuka January 29, 2018

    I have a fish farm, just started stocking for the new year, and I will like to export or expand my sales channel, I sell live, smoked ones too… so please how can I do these?

  • Mubasiru Aiyelagbe April 2, 2018

    Sir, Please I need Smoked Fish buyers Outside and Within Nigeria .Thanks. Mubasiru Aiyelagbe

  • Emmanuel April 11, 2018

    I like this writeup and appreciates the writer taking time to do this. But am afraid the figures could really be misleading. Buy fish for 400 to 600 naira / kg, dry it for abiut 100 naira per kg and sell between 1k to 1.5k per kg. That really sound sweet. That will give profit from 300 naira to 1,000 naira per kg depending on how much you buy the fresh fish and how much you sell your dried fish.

    Big question, how many kg of dried fish will you get from 1kg of fresh fish????

    1kg of fresh fish will not give you 1kg of dried fish. Not even half kg of dried fish. Remember,

    Let’s get realistic estimates so as not to get disappointed especially for biginers.

    Fresh fish is also selling for 550 to 700 now.

    Just feel like throwing in some facts. I have been a victim of a good write up in the past. What I got was very far from what I read

  • Odubo May 13, 2018

    Good day, pls I need the fish smoker of 200kg powered by gas in Ogun state. Contact me on whatsup to show me pics 08058033943

  • Tony May 31, 2018

    good write up.please am already into fish farming but has a passion for smoking my products.really wants to start processing.please i need assistance on how to get the drying/smoking machine please.my number 08064362630.

  • Cynthia August 23, 2018

    Pls how much do you sell both per kg.
    Which state are you?
    I want to buy.

  • Samson Emomotimi September 17, 2018

    hello pls how do i contact u

  • Babafemi December 30, 2018

    I have been into this business for years, and I must say that it is a very lucrative one. Would you like to have a one-on-one training as regards this? You can call 08134591557

  • Dante March 10, 2019

    foreign kin with oil extractor from china at an affordable price.call or whatsapp 08139620081

  • Dante March 10, 2019

    foreign kin machine with oil extractor from china, call or whatsapp 08139620081.

  • Mr Dante March 10, 2019

    foreign kin machine with oil extractor from china at an affordable price,call or whatsapp 08139620081

  • akin July 11, 2019

    i also need the 200gm to smoke fish my no. 08128931669

  • MaMaE. July 23, 2019

    Please can you send the picture of that dring machine to me just needed to observe it.
    BEST REGARD.

  • Ufuoma August 7, 2019

    Hi, just saw this article which I must say is very educative. Kudos to the writer. Am presently into small scale cat fish farming but will expand as time goes. Am interested in the drying machine and would also want to go into exports too. Please I will appreciate to a response.

  • Aquarich September 9, 2019

    Are you in Kwara State and in need of a charcoal smoking kiln that can accommodate fish between 20k, 50kg, 100k, and 200kg ? Price varies with size and your location (whether you are within Ilorin city or not). You can contact us on 08157343699

  • Grace September 26, 2019

    Pls, as a young entrepreneur how much we I use to stars this smoking fish business.

  • alele October 18, 2019

    wow this is great , please i need the cost price of an ISO machine, or local drier powered by gass that can,carry up to 150-200kg of fish , here is my direct contact please (09058234817)

  • danjuma June 27, 2020

    Thanks for your write up.
    Do you have local offtakers (buyers)?
    Also what is the weight shrinkage factor when you dry 1kg of fresh fish?

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