As the new year begins, catfish agro-entrepreneurs are expected to record strong growth, high profits and an expanding market, according to sources in the sector.
Despite persistent structural challenges, high profit forecasts are expected across the catfish value chain due to Africa’s rapidly growing population, increased focus on tackling childhood malnutrition, and growing global demand for protein-rich foods.
According to the World Bank, Africa’s population is expected to reach 1.5 billion by 2030, and Nigeria’s population is expected to reach 230 million.
With fish accounting for about 40 percent of Nigerians’ protein intake and a domestic supply shortage of more than 50 percent, 2026 looks bright for the country’s catfish business.
The Akwa Ibom Aquaculture Farmers Association (AKWAFAN) has predicted significant opportunities for fish farmers in 2026, stressing the importance of unity and cooperation to fully capitalize on these prospects.
“Our members need to be resolute, united and committed to their cooperatives, as collective strength remains the key to creating greater opportunities in the value chain,” said the chairman.
Mr. Okon Ama, Chief Executive Officer of ProDave Integrated Farms and Services Limited, highlighted the vast opportunities that await catfish farming entrepreneurs in 2026.
“Protein is the new oil as fish farming remains a high-turnover agribusiness, continuing to offer short production cycles, predictable cash flows and scalable profits if feed efficiency and biosecurity are properly managed,” he said.
“Furthermore, agro-processing activities such as fish smoking, filleting, packaging, milling and oil extraction reduce post-harvest losses and significantly increase per unit revenue. This is why governments and development banks such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) are actively investing in agro-processing zones,” he added.
Experts say the success of agribusinesses is no longer determined by how hard they farm, but by how strategically they position themselves within the value chain.
Kaduna-based catfish farmer Elizabeth Uroko echoed similar views, highlighting strong prospects for the catfish sector in 2026.
“Currently, a kilogram of catfish is cheaper than beef or chicken, and its affordability, combined with strong demand for protein sources, will make it a profitable business for farmers in 2026,” she told this reporter.
One of the key factors contributing to the growing attractiveness of aquaculture is the influx of large-scale investments from institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other foreign investors, demonstrating strong confidence in Africa’s agricultural potential.
Additionally, emerging technologies such as aquaponics, agritech solutions, and advanced agro-processing systems are gaining momentum across the sector. These innovations are expected to increase efficiency, reduce operational risk, and create new revenue opportunities for producers, processors, and marketers.
However, globally, demand growth may slow slightly as China ramps up efforts to become food self-sufficient in 2026, according to the Rabobank report.
Risks and solutions
Fish production, processing, and marketing are predicted to have great potential in 2026, but technology gaps, instability, and high feed costs continue to weigh on the sector.
A recent report by the World Aquaculture Association highlights that training farmers can play a key role in increasing profitability while enhancing food security and curbing malnutrition across the continent. However, providing such training remains difficult as most farmers operate in rural areas that are difficult to access.
“The most important factors that will have a significant impact at this stage are the provision of skills and information,” the report said.
“However, it is certainly a logistical nightmare to send so many African trainers to talk to farmers, as accessibility remains a major challenge.”
Mr Ama (quoted earlier) also noted that insecurity, climate change and post-harvest losses continue to threaten the sector.
“The most common risks in aquaculture include climate stress, high input costs, post-harvest losses and security insecurity, which remain real threats to the business,” he said.
“However, these risks can be mitigated through investments in cluster production, large-scale cooperative building, storage, processing and branding,” he added.
David Yaji, CEO of Abuja-based Dabuyaji Farms, also stressed the importance of preparing the market before the production cycle ends.
“The easiest way to guarantee profits is to ensure a ready market before the production cycle is completed to prevent losses,” he said.
