A VIEW OF EXTRUDED FISH FEED PRODUCTION UNITS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRIAN THE EXAMPLE OF IVORY COAST
Introduction
Ivory Coast is a major importer of fish, with a national consumption of 650,000T for a production of 110,000T in 2021, of which 4% comes from aquaculture (1). Ivorian aquaculture is characterized by extensive systems (2). In order to meet market demand, farmers are intensifying their system by using feeds . This study focuses on extruded fish feed factorises, which flourished across Ivorian territory since 2018. The objective is to characterize this new production.
Material & Methods
Six production units located in the southern half of the country between July and August 2023have been investigated . P roducers were interviewed, the characteristics of the production tools were characterized and sampling of raw materials and feeds were carried out. Due to the lack of laboratories in the region, these samples were evaluated on various physical and visual criteria to obtain an estimation on their quality. When possible, fish farmers using feeds from these units were also interviewed.
Results and Discussion
Production units have various profiles: half of them were less than a year old at the date of the study, 3 were on-farm feeds production units, 2 of which produce d exclusively for self-consumption. Declared p roduction varies from 500 kg/day to around 1T/day. The facilities have various levels of equipment with installation costs (equipment + infrastructure) ranging from 9.103 USD to 273.100 USD (1 USD= 604,19 FCFA, 4th July 2023).
Raw materials (RM) used are mainly agricultural by -products (fig.1). Proteins are expensive and hardly available . It encourages feed producers to limit their inclusion in formulas or to use inexpensive, poor-qualitative ingredients .
RM are often obtained from artisanal processes. I t is therefore im possible to get a standardize d composition . It partly explains the unmastered nutritional quality of the final products.
Storage conditions are generally inappropriate with high moisture and temperature, which enables the development of mold. W arehouses were often colonized with insects. Such conditions lead to the loss of valuable nutrients.
Pellets physical characteristics were not homogeneous, in particular buoyancy (fig2) , durability and length.
Interviewed f ish famers clearly indicate their will to buy and support local feed producers , but they consider that local feed prices are high and zootechnical performances are unsatisfactory. These feedbacks match es the constatation made in factories.