Economic efficiency of catfish production in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aquaculture is one of the agricultural sub-sectors, and catfish is the major and commonest fish culture in Nigeria. Estimating the economic efficiency of  catfish production is urgently needed in this direction. The study therefore focuses on the economic efficiency of catfish production in Edo State, Nigeria.  It specifically described the socio-economic and production characteristics of the catfish farmers, estimated their level of economic efficiency and identifies the factors influencing the inefficiency of catfish production in the study area with the view to increase production. Structured questionnaires  were used to collect data and a total of 330 catfish farmers provided useful information for the study. Descriptive statistics and the maximum likelihood  estimate of the Stochastic Frontier cost function were used for data analysis. The results indicated that the feed quantity per kg of catfish used was  highest for farmers under Edo North (0.90kg per cycle per kg fish), while the average number of catfish produced per farmers was lowest under Edo  South (3412.36). The results further showed that the farm output of catfish per kg and the price per kg of mature catfish was 4859.51kg and ₦752.56 per  cycle per kg fish in Edo State. The average level of economic efficiency of the farmers was 0.60. Since the catfish production was economically viable, the   farmers should be encouraged to expand their holdings and boost catfish production.