This post originally appeared on the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish website and was written by the Applying Lean Management in Aquaculture Production team.

Oludayo Oluyemi is an accomplished fish farmer who has been farming since 2009. However, despite his success in the business, he did not have all the answers when facing a case of high fish mortality. Then, he was introduced to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Lean training program, where he learned about the root cause analysis tool (or five whys), which he found to be most helpful in identifying appropriate solutions to on-farm challenges. He also learned that using antibiotics to treat aquaculture ponds may not be as effective in the long term as he thought, and he was introduced to using salt as an alternative, which he now implements daily.

Oluyemi is enthusiastic about collaborating with other farmers and sharing the knowledge he obtained from the training. He believes that Lean principles can be applied to a variety of fields — not just aquaculture and agriculture — and can have a beneficial impact on productivity and profitability.

Oluyemi worked on approximately six farm projects and collaborated with other farmers, demonstrating the impacts of the Lean training on his fish farm. One farmer he had the opportunity to work with was experiencing high mortality rates in fingerlings. Although the farmer was previously advised to purchase antibiotics to treat the fish, Oluyemi discouraged this practice and suggested using salt in accordance with his Lean training. As a result, the farmer addressed the problem and stopped the mortality incidents.

Oluyemi has also been able to reduce areas of waste, such as energy and time.

“Waste-in-motion is a particular waste I have tried hard to reduce on my farm to improve efficiency, and I am still working on different ways to reduce it,” he said.

One of the tools he has utilized from the waste-in-motion principle is the point-of-use system, a system to keep needed tools close where they are most needed, which has also been instrumental in helping him be more efficient. Previously, his farming equipment was kept in a centralized location, but now each tool is kept close to its point-of-use, saving time and money on the farm.

“Thank God for this opportunity to learn about Lean management to make sure I am on the right path in the aquaculture sector,” Oluyemi said. “I am now better aware of waste, and the tools learned have been very helpful.”