Performance of Catfish (Clariasgariepinus) Farming in Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In a growing nation like Nigeria, where millions of its teeming people suffer from malnutrition, the need for proper nutrition is especially important. Nigerians consume a lot of fish, with a 3.6 million metric ton annual demand. Yet, there is a national demand-supply mismatch of 2.5 million metric tons, and imports are used to make up the difference at a cost of about 625 million US dollars annually. Hence, the demand-supply gap can be effectively closed by starting widespread small- and large-scale fish production.
Objective: The study examined the Per for mance of catfish, Clarias gariepinus farming in Ikorodu Local Government area, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Methods: 50 randomly selected farmers from the Ikorodu LGA completed a standardized questionnaire to gather the primary data for the analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an assessment of net farm revenue.
Results: The results of the budgetary analysis showed that the total cost (TC) of ₦4,234,313 ($9,993.27) was incurred, total revenue (TR) of ₦4,953,125 ($11,689.71) and a returning gross margin (GM) of ₦787,312.50 ($1,858.11) were attained. The benefit-cost ratio was 1.17, the rate of return on investment was 0.17, the gross revenue ratio was 0.16 and an operating ratio of 0.84. This indicates that catfish farming is marginally profitable due to the high cost of fish feed which was 84 % of the total cost of production in the study area