Catfish Hatchery & Grow-Out Farm Worker - Kaduna at LAJ Aquaculture & Farmacology

Primary Site: 28 Usman Jibril Street, Narayi Highcost, Adjacent NAFDAC Office, Kaduna (On-site accommodation available)

Reports to: Farm Manager
Employment Type: Full-time (On-site)

Job Summary

The Catfish Hatchery & Grow-Out Farm Worker will support the daily operations of the hatchery, nursery, and grow-out systems at Laj Aquaculture. Responsibilities include broodstock handling, breeding assistance, fry and fingerling management, feeding, water quality monitoring, feed storage management, and general farm maintenance. The ideal candidate is reliable, hardworking, and willing to follow established protocols to ensure high survival rates and optimal fish production.

Key Responsibilities

Hatchery Operations

• Assist in broodstock management, including feeding, sorting, and monitoring readiness for breeding.
• Support the breeding process, including hormone administration (under supervision), stripping, fertilisation, egg handling, and incubation.
• Monitor early fry (0–7 days) for survival, feeding response, and water hygiene.
• Manage late fry (7–21 days) through scheduled feeding, early grading, and maintaining clean tanks to minimise cannibalism.
• Support the movement and management of fingerlings into nursery tanks or ponds.
• Check nursery systems for growth rates, predators, water quality, and overall survival.
• Perform routine grading of fry and fingerlings to maintain uniform size groups.

Fish Rearing & Feeding

• Feed fish according to the feeding schedule and growth stage.
• Monitor feeding behaviour and adjust feed quantities accurately.
• Assist in the care of fry, fingerlings, juveniles, and market-size stock.

Feed Storage & Management

• Assist in receiving, organising, and storing fish feed in a clean, dry, and pest-free environment.
• Ensure feed bags are stacked properly (e.g., on pallets) to prevent moisture damage.
• Monitor stored feed for signs of spoilage, mould, pests, or contamination and report issues immediately.
• Track feed usage to ensure proper stock rotation (first-in, first-out — FIFO).
• Maintain accurate daily records of feed consumption, remaining stock, and replenishment needs.
• Ensure feed is kept secure and only accessed by authorised staff.

Water Quality & System Management

• Check water levels and assess basic water quality parameters (clarity, temperature, flow).
• Clean ponds, tanks, filters, and water inlet/outlet systems as required.
• Ensure proper water flow and report any faults immediately.

Health & Stock Monitoring

• Observe fish daily for stress, illness, or unusual behaviour.
• Remove mortalities promptly and report abnormalities to the Farm Manager.
• Assist with basic treatments such as salt baths, formalin dips, or sorting.

Harvesting & Sales Support

• Assist with sorting, grading, and harvesting fish for sale.
• Support weighing, packaging, and customer loading.
• Handle live fish with care to maintain quality.

Farm Maintenance

• Keep all farm areas, equipment, and tools clean and well organised.
• Perform minor repairs and report major maintenance needs promptly.
• Maintain safety and hygiene standards across the hatchery and farm.

Record Keeping

• Assist in logging feed usage, mortalities, water quality checks, fry/fingerling counts, and growth data.
• Support accurate documentation of stock movements, harvest weights, and sales.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience in aquaculture or hatchery operations is an advantage but not essential—training will be provided.
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Physically fit and capable of performing manual labour tasks.
• Willingness to work early mornings, weekends, and public holidays.
• Basic literacy and numeracy for record keeping.

Working Conditions & Benefits

• Free on-site accommodation provided.
• Work involves both indoor (hatchery) and outdoor (pond/tank) activities across varying weather conditions.
• Opportunity for aquaculture skills development and career growth.
• Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience).

Staff Welfare & Health Insurance (Compulsory)

• Laj Aquaculture is committed to staff well-being. All employees are enrolled in a compulsory health insurance scheme under the NHIA GIFSHIP programme.

Key details:

• Annual premium: ₦38,200
• Monthly equivalent cost: ₦3,200
• Deduction plan: Paid through four equal instalments of ₦9,550 per year
• Covers access to quality healthcare nationwide
• The company manages registration, premium remittance, and issuance of NHIA ID cards
• This policy ensures reliable healthcare access and protection from unexpected medical expenses.