A review of the animal and aquafeed industries in Côte d'Ivoire - M.F. Magby

Département. des ressources animales (DPA), 01 BP. 6333 Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire

1. Introduction

The Ivorian animal feed industry comprises two disparate groups - the formal and informal feed sectors. The formal manufacturing sector is represented by eight animal feed manufacturers, and manufactures an estimated 98 percent of the country's total feed production. The remaining 2 percent of the production is provided by the informal sector (DPA/MINAGRA, 2001). In 2000, the formal industry generated 86 960 tonnes of feed. Precise production figures for individual animal feed industries are not available as the feed manufacturers consider this information proprietary. Nevertheless, the total production figures relate to entire animal feed industry and include broilers, layers, pigs, beeves, sheep and fish. The levels of feeds supplied to the dairy industry are considered negligible (DPA/MINAGRA, 2001).

The poultry industry (broiler and layer) is currently the largest animal feed industry in Côte d'Ivoire, and accounts for more than 90 percent of the national feed production (DPA/MINAGRA, 2001). Production figures suggest that the formal sector produced all the country's feed. However, this is unlikely as the informal sector (including farmers producing their own formulations) will have produced some feeds. In 1998, 102 679 tonnes of poultry feed were produced. This figure has subsequently reduced to 78 264 tonnes in 2000.

The dairy industry is a nascent industry with limited production capacity. Thus, the majority of milk products available in the country is imported from Europe. While feed consumption data is not available, the size of the industry suggests that it is negligible, and would not impact the national statistics.

The sheep and beef farming operations that are currently in operation are experimental farming projects jointly run by the Ministry of Agriculture and small private farms. Feeding regimes are pastoral and supplemented with a small number of granular feeds.

Annual pig production stands at 11 890 tonnes of product (INS, 2000). Unfortunately, data describing the industry's feed production is not available.

2. A review of the raw materials available to the animal feed industry

Relatively few raw materials are available to the feed manufacturing industry (Table 1). Those that are include fishmeals, maize, rice bran, wheat bran, sea shell and oilcakes. Feed supplements are available in the country, however, there is little production capacity, and thus the majority is imported - principally from Europe.

Table 1. Raw materials used by animal feed producers in Côte d'Ivoire (2001)

SOURCE: DPH/MINAGRA, 2000

2.1 Maize

Local maize production is sufficient to supply the local animal feed industry. In 1999, 692 749 tonnes of maize were produced (Table 2). Unfortunately, there is no data set for 2000/01, however, supplies are reported as abundant, and there are no problems associated with availability.

Table 2. Annual national production of raw materials (tonnes)

Source: ANADER/MINAGRA, 2001

2.2 Soya

Soya has been produced in central west of the country. However, it is a new operation that has been curtailed by low market prices. Currently, no production data is available.

2.3 Fishmeals

In 2000, 4 188 tonnes of fishmeal were produced (Table 3). Production is restricted to one producer that uses the residues derived from fish canning factories. Unfortunately, the supply is irregular and often unable to satisfy the country's requirement. Thus, Côte d'Ivoire is a net importer of fishmeal, importing from Senegal as and when required. Import data suggests that 760 and 620 tonnes of fishmeal were imported during 1998 and 2000, respectively (DPA/MINAGRA, 2001).

Table 3. Quantities and costs of fishmeal locally produced and imported (1995 - 2000)

Source: DPH/MINAGRA

2.4 Oilcakes - soya, cotton and copra

There are three major and a number of minor seed crushers currently in operation in Côte d'Ivoire. They produce soya, cotton and copra oilcakes. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine production figures as the companies involved in the industry consider such information to be proprietary. Furthermore, the National Statistics Institute does not record such information. Nevertheless, it has been estimated that during 2000, the two principle animal feed manufacturers (FACI and IVOGRAIN) used 6 200, 8 600 and 2 000 tonnes of soya, cotton and copra meal, respectively (Table 4). Of this figure, copra and cotton oilcakes are locally produced, and the soya oilcake is imported.

Table 4. Oilcakes consumption by the animal feed industry (tonnes) in 2000

Source: FACI/IVOGRAIN, 2001

2.5 Maize, rice and wheat bran

In 2000, the combined white and yellow maize crop yielded over 692 749 tonnes of produce. Animal feed manufacturers report that maize production in Côte d'Ivoire is sufficient to supply the local requirement. During 2000, two of the principle animal feed manufacturers (FACI and IVOGRAIN) used 31 600, 6 900 and 12 400 tonnes of maize, rice and wheat bran, respectively (Table 5).

Table 5. Maize, rice and wheat consumption (tonnes) in 2000.

Source: FACI AND IVOGRAIN, 2001

2.6 Tax and import duties associated with importing raw materials into Côte d'Ivoire

There are currently no tariffs imposed on raw materials that are imported into the country for use by the animal feed industry.

3. Aquaculture feed production in Côte d'Ivoire

Aquafeed production is a nascent industry that only received attention after independence in 1960. Annual production figures reveal that there is a high degree of variation in the country's annual output - between 1996 and 2000, annual production has varied between 450 and 1 200 tonnes (Figure 1). During 2000, approximately 1 200 tonnes of aquaculture products, valued at US$1 562 000, were produced. This figure is significantly lower than the 238 467 tonnes of aquatic products that were imported into the country during this period.

Figure 1. Aquaculture production in Côte d'Ivoire (1996 - 2000)

Annual production figures suggest that between 2 500 and 3 000 tonnes of feed are produced per annum - this figure represents a mere 0.3 - 0.4 percent of the country's annual animal feed production. Nevertheless, between 1995 and 2000, growth in the sector has been significant with an increase in feed production of 271 percent (DRH/MINAGRA, 2000). The feeds manufactured are produced exclusively for the tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and catfish (Clarias, Chrysichthys and Heterobranchus spp.) industries. The quantities of aquafeed produced from 1996 to 2000 are presented in Figure 2. Annual feed consumption varies markedly. During the past five years, the tilapia and catfish industries have accounted for 65 percent and 35 percent of the national aquafeed production, respectively. In 2000, it was estimated that 2 442 tonnes of aquafeeds were produced. Production was dominated by two manufacturers.

It should be noted that while aquaculture is a relatively new industry in Côte d'Ivoire, it is currently in an expansive phase of development - entrepreneurs with private capital are investing in the industry. Projected annual production figures suggest that by 2010, 10 000 tonnes of aquaculture products - requiring 25 000 tonnes of feed in the region - will be produced.

Figure 2. Aquafeed production in Côte d'Ivoire (1996 - 2000)

Source: DPH/MINAGRA

3.1 Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus and O. aureus)

Cultured tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) production fluctuates on an annual basis. Between 1996 and 2000, production has varied between 250 and 1 100 tonnes. In 2000, 558 tonnes of tilapia were produced. Typically producers are small-scale farmers spread throughout the country. However, during the past five years, five or six large producers have initiated operations in the south of the country. Culture techniques vary, and include high density intensive cage and pond culture - in which the entire nutritional requirements of the animals must be met using formulated feeds - to extensive pond and dam culture, in which formulated feeds are either absent or used as supplements to the naturally occurring feed stuffs.

In 2000, 837 tonnes of feed were produced. Three types of tilapia formulation are currently in production (Annex 3). These comprise a fingerling diet (32 - 45 percent protein), a growout diet (30 - 40 percent protein) and a finisher diet (25 - 35 percent protein). The protein component of all the feeds is supplied by an Ivorian fishmeal. The carbohydrate sources are supplied by maize, rice and wheat, and the lipid fraction is supplied by fish oil. An additional vitamin and mineral premix of both local and imported origin is added to the formulations. The availability of all the dietary components has been described as excellent. The exception being the availability of the Ivorian fish oil, which was described as adequate. The current retail prices for tilapia feed formulations vary between US$0.22/kg and US$0.27/kg.

3.2 Catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Heterobranchus longifilis and Clarias gariepinus)

Catfish production in Côte d'Ivoire has increased from 28 tonnes in 1996, to 642 tonnes in 2000. Concomitant with this increase in production has been the augmentation of the feed supply that has increased from 70 tonnes in 1996, to 1 605 tonnes in 2000. A number of culture techniques is currently employed. Principally, these include high density intensive lagoon enclosures or pens and pond culture. Typically, farmers are small-scale and - at present - numerous than those working in the tilapia industry.

There are currently four catfish feeds available (Annex 3). The first is a larval feed that is a beef brain/egg composite. Three formulated feeds are also available. These include a fingerling feed (40 - 60 percent protein), a growout feed (35 - 40 percent protein) and a finisher feed (28 - 35 percent protein). The protein component of all the feeds is supplied by an Ivorian fishmeal. The carbohydrate sources are supplied by maize, rice and wheat, and the lipid fraction is supplied by fish oil. An additional vitamin and mineral premix of both local and imported origin is added to the formulations. The availability of all the dietary components has been described as excellent. The exception being the availability of the Ivorian fish oil, which was described as adequate. The current retail prices for tilapia feed formulations vary between US$0.29/kg and US$0.32/kg.

3.3 Other species

During the 1990s, an unsuccessful attempt was made to culture shrimp in the Grand Lahou region. The project was terminated after three years of operation. System design and an inappropriate species choice were blamed for the failure.

4. Information sources

The information compiled in this report was obtained by surveying the aquaculture feed manufacturers operating in Cote d'Ivoire. Visits were made to some of the manufacturers (FACI and IVOGRAIN), the Ministry of Commerce, the technical services of Agricultural Ministry (DPH and Lagoon Aquaculture Project PAL, ANADER) and the National Statistics Institute (INS). Farmers and institutions involved in the aquaculture industry were consulted and asked to respond to a questionnaire.

5. Sources of information

Cisse, A. 1996. Etude du rapport protéine-énergie dans l'alimentation de Sarotherodon melanotheron (Rüppel, 1852): influence sur la consommation alimentaire, la croissance et la composition corporelle. In: R.S.V. Pullin, J. Lazard, M. Legendre, J.B Amon Kothias & D. Pauly (éds). Le troisième symposium international sur le tilapia en aquaculture. pp. 213 - 218. ICLARM Cnf. Proc. 41, 630 p.

Jauncey, K. & Ross, B.. 1982. A guide to tilapia feeds and feeding. Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Ecosse. 111 p.

Middendorp, A.J. 1993. Production of fingerlings and marketable size African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in pond in northern Cameroon. Naga, ICLARM Q.16 (4): 21 - 22.

Middendorp, A.J. 1995a. Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in northern Cameroon 1. Feeding combination of cottonseed cake and brewery waste in fingerling culture, hand-sexed male monosex culture and mixed culture with police-fish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). Aquacult. Res. 26: 715 - 722.

Middendorp, A.J. 1995b. Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in northern Cameroon. Mixed culture of large tilapia (sup to 200 g) with cattle manure and cottonseed cake as pond input, and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), as police-fish. Aquacult. Res. 26: 723 - 730.

Middendorp, A.J. 1996. Nourrissage des tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) avec des tourteaux de coton dans des étangs de terre où les poissons-chats (Clarias gariepinus) ont une fonction de régulation. In: R.S.V. Pullin, J. Lazard, M. Legendre, J.B Amon

Amon-Kothias, J.B. & Pauly, D. (éds). Le troisième symposium international sur le tilapia en aquaculture, pp. 219 - 225. ICLARM Cnf. Proc. 41, 630 p.