Crayfish Business in Nigeria – In Nigeria crayfish business is one of the top businesses in the food sector of the nation. Because crayfish is eaten by the majority of the Nigerian population only a select few individuals do not eat crayfish and this is usually due to their religious beliefs or health preferences. The eating of crayfish is so common that every Nigerian at one point in their lives whether vegetarian or not has eaten crayfish at least once in their lifetime. The crayfish is from a family of fish is called crustaceans which are very high in protein and are in great demand in kitchens in Nigeria and all over the world. They are commonly used in spicing up dishes and also used by individuals that are on a diet, as the crayfish is really low in carbohydrates. Amongst the countries that eat crayfish are Nigeria, Mexico, Spain, Nordic countries, France Russia, Australia and United States of America. This makes crayfish an excellent export, as Nigerians and foreigners from around the world request crayfish on a daily basis. Crayfish can be exported whole or ground into powder form which can be used as spices for dishes. Akwa ibom States in Nigeria is known for having the best quality crayfish and also home to individuals that are into the crayfish business as large quantities of crayfish I exported out of akwa ibom state on a monthly basis.
How to Start a Crayfish Business in Nigeria
How lucrative is crayfish business in Nigeria?
Crayfish is a business that can be started with a very low capital and overtime has the potential to turn the trader into a millionaire, this can be possible with hard work study of the business and persistence. A trader has the ability to make up to 50% returns on investments on each bag sold, while the bags may vary in size and weight the calculation remains the same. As a 5 kg bag goes for 30,000 the gain on each bag sold should be 15,000 naira, when you factor in cost of transportation and other expenses which one may incur. A lot of money can be made from the business especially when the crayfish is being sold in large quantities such as 10 to 100 bags. 150 bags a month would turn the buyer into an instant millionaire. In a country where 9 to 5 Office jobs and other corporate employment fail to provide the financial requirements of their day-to-day workers, side businesses have been the solution to the economic problem going on in Nigeria. Which is why businesses such as crayfish business is slowly becoming a norm in the country as the food business is one that can never be affected by economic drought.
Where can I sell crayfish in Nigeria?
Identifying one’s market is the best way to start any business. The high demand for crayfish is proof that there is market for it, because it is consumed every day there is a high demand for it and it has an ever-growing market. It can be started with little capital as one can buy a bag and then grow from there. Crayfish doesn’t have a fixed price due to their market and the scarcity of fish as well as inflation in the country. With an average of 100,000 naira one can start a crayfish business, buying at least 3 bags of crayfish. A business plan is required however one where the seller would decide if they are selling in small bags or big bags or even containers this will determine how much capital is needed to run the business. One can also sell in all sizes of bags and containers, the business is very easy to manage and requires little or no stress as the crayfish is already processed and dried and has a long shelf life as long as they are kept clean sealed and dry.
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In order to make a sizable profits in the crayfish business one needs to cut out the middleman and buy directly from the farmers or distributors even if it means traveling to their States or placing orders for it to be sent over via courier service this would go a long way in increasing returns being that any extra charge on top of their price would be your profit. This is by far the only way to maximize the profitability of this business. As it would help you dictate your price in a manner that suits you.
Where is the best crayfish in Nigeria?
While akwa-ibom is popularly known as the center for buying crayfish due to its low prices and quality, this isn’t always true as crayfish can be bought from a number of other States in Nigeria including Ogun and Ondo. It is important to know however that akwa ibom is favoured by marketers because it has the highest quality, taste and it is also nearly dirt free. The cleanliness of the crayfish is as per request of the customer because majority of customers are turned off or put off by the sight of dirt being on their crayfish, this would make cooking very difficult as it would add sand to the meals that have been prepared and even the most careful chefs often miss things. So in order to keep a loyal customer base one must ensure that the seller of the crayfish sells only the cleanest highest quality available because most clients would not give their cell is a second chance.
One can buy as many bags as required or as your finances would allow and sell to market women or package and sell to individuals through your own personal channels. Social media is another great market base which is often really explored by businessmen and women. With social media one can save money on buying a shop or renting one and just deliver directly from their home to the client’s home, making the job of selling crayfish a lot easier. There are currently a number of markets spaces on social media ever owned by young enterprising youth that are finding success through it. Payments can be made via bank transfer. And because the crayfish is dry and has a high shelf life they can easily be stored in your home as long as they are kept in a cool dry place devoid of moisture and water they can last a very long time.
How to Package Crayfish for Sale
The crayfish can be packaged in Ziploc bags, waterproof bags, 5 kg bean bags 10 kg bean bags and so on. the different sizes and packages will definitely come with different prices which you would calculate and put on the products making it easy to determine profits while giving your business a professional and look and standard. In our current world buyers value quality which is why the utmost care must be taken when selecting the packaging for your crayfish however this is solely dependent on your selling method or your customer base. For a more commercialized look and appearance of the crayfish one can purchase Ziploc bags and have them branded with a logo making it more appealing to customers, this act alone can validate the increase in pricing as your crayfish can now be marketed as high quality. They can also be sold and powder form which would mean you would have to own a grinder or a blender to be able to convert the crayfish to powder. The powdery form of the crayfish is sold at a higher cost than the one that hasn’t been grinded. Because in the powder form it is now ready to be used as spices for soups and other dishes by the clients taking away the stress of having to grind the crayfish themselves. The powdery form of the crayfish can also be sold in Ziploc bags waterproof bags as well as being bags if need be but they are often sold in smaller quantities and you would most likely find more people interested in Ziploc bags and waterproof bags of crayfish.
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The crayfish business has opened a lot of opportunities for upcoming and industrious people that have been affected by the economy of the country and the lack of jobs available in Nigeria. It can be used as a full-time job as it can very well provide for one’s family and daily needs all this though, is solely dependent on your business skill and practice.
Having a number of places where one can buy crayfish can be the difference between one seller and the next because having a number of locations where crayfish is sold would mean that you will always have stock in times when crayfish is scarce in certain locations. The most common places where crayfish is sold in Nigeria again are Akwa ibom, Ogun and Ondo. In Akwa ibom is sold at Oron and Ibeno. People from all over Nigeria even the North and the middle belt of Nigeria frequent Akwa-ibom to buy crayfish, however in cases of scarcity crayfish sellers often go as far as traveling to Cameroon to get crayfish for their clients this would of course affect the pricing of the crayfish but it is to be expected as stated earlier in this article that the price of crayfish fluctuates due to the economic condition of the country as well as the supply and availability of the crayfish.
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I find this article very nformative.