You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
The study examined the profitability and resource use efficiency of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production in Benue state, Nigeria. Cross sectional data were used for the study. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of one hundred and fifty-eight (158) catfish farmers used for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyzed the data set for the study. Cobb-Douglas regression analysis, stochastic frontier model, gross margin, and t – test analysis were used to analyze the stated objectives and hypotheses in the study. The results from the study revealed that the mean age of catfish farmers was 35.7 years, 62.7 % of the Catfish farmers were male, 93.9% of the Catfish farmers in the study had formal education, and the mean farm experience was 4.5 years. The resource use efficiency analysis showed that fingerlings and Labour were under-utilized (below optimum) while pond size and quantity of feed were over utilized (above optimum). Stochastic production frontier analysis model revealed that the mean technical efficiency was 73% giving a room for 27% improvement in efficiency. Coefficients of fingerlings (P<0.01), pond size (P<0.01), and water (P<0.01) were significant in determining technical efficiency. The inefficiency component revealed that the coefficients of age (P<0.01), marital status (P<0.1), and sex (P<0.01) were the significant variables influencing inefficiency. The net farm income was calculated to be N530, 666.27 with benefit cost ratio and rate of investment of 3.1 and 2.1 respectively. From the result inadequate fund was ranked 1st as the major constraint faced in catfish production, it was concluded that catfish production was a profitable enterprise in the study area and hence the study recommended that farmers be advice to venture into value addition program and courses that will build their technical know-how in catfish production for efficient utilization of resource for optimum production. Also, credit facilities should be made available and accessible at a relatively low interest rate to catfish farmers in the study area to boost and encourage production.
