Profitability Analysis of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Production in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The continuous importation of fish portends a colossal loss of foreign exchange reserved to Nigeria which requires urgent attention to boost fish production. It is against this backdrop that this study analyzed the profitability analysis of catfish production in Edo State, Nigeria. It specifically describe the production characteristics of the catfish farmers, estimate the input and output quantities of catfish, determine the profitability and identify the constraints associated with catfish production in the study area. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select a total of 468 catfish farmers from the study area. Data collection was achieved through the administration of structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques and 4-Point Likert-type scale. The results revealed that the farmers in the study area used more of personal savings (58.12%), family land (59.40%) and local feed (82.48%). Stocked more at juvenile stage (70.30%) and produced average output of 4859.51kg per production cycle. The results also showed the average total cost incurred and revenue realized were N 543.67 and N 752.56 per kg fish respectively. The catfish production was profitable with average gross margin, net profit and return per naira invested of N224.35, N208.90 and N1.38 per production cycle respectively. The major constraints faced by catfish farmers were high cost of food (3.96), lack of capital (3.65) and lack of inadequate power supply (3.51) are very serious constraints among others. Since the catfish production was profitable, the farmers should be encouraged to combat these constraints and expand their holdings to boost production.

Determinants of technical and allocative efficiencies in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Production in South-East, Nigeria

“…This result conforms to the findings of Amachree, Jamabo and Joseph, (2019) [4] , that majority of catfish farmers in Rivers State, South-south, Nigeria, used concrete pond. It also agreed with the report of Imade and Egbodon, (2021) [16] , that earthen pond was the least used by catfish farmers in Delta State, South-south, Nigeria.…”

“…This, according to them, was because of its cost-effectiveness in terms of design and management as well as the limited impact on the environment. The findings of Imade and Egbodon, (2021) [16] also toed the same line when they reported that the mean levels of technical efficiency (TE) of the farmers under the production systems in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, were earthen pond (0.77), concrete pond (0.76) and plastic/tarpaulin pond (0.73) respectively. This was also the case in terms of output as Abasiekong, Ogban, and Idiong, (2021) reported that there were significant differences (P<.01) among the mean output of fish per ponds from the three production systems, with earthen pond having the highest value, followed by concrete pond, and mobile pond in Cross river State, South-south Nigeria.…”

Cost efficiency of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production under various systems in Delta State, Nigeria

“…Fish is a global source of protein for humans and is included in the diet of some animals (Imade and Ahmadu, 2022). The importance of fish as a source of protein and food to every person cannot be overemphasized in the world today (Ajiboye et al, 2020).…”

“…Given its high nutritional value, fish is an essential component of the diet of high and low income earners in Nigeria. It contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals (Yaqoob and Fasakin, 2021), and it happens to be the cheapest source of protein available to man (Imade and Ogieva, 2022). Fish production is often viewed as one of the means of increasing food production in food deficient countries like Nigeria.…”

“…Aquaculture, popularly known as domestic fish rearing, involves the rearing of fish under controlled conditions for economic and social benefits (Imade and Egbodon, 2021). Awareness of the potential of aquaculture to contribute to the domestication of fish has continued to increase in Nigeria (Imade and Ahmadu, 2022).…”