PROFITABILITY AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF CULTURED FISH FARMING IN KAINJI LAKE BASIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

he study analysed the profitability and efficiency of cultured fish farming in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria. A two stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 204 respondents from the three main strata of Kainji Lake Basin. Data were collected through interview schedule and structured questionnaire administered to the sampled fish farmers. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting technique and stochastic production frontier approach. A total of 88.2% of the respondent were males, 87.8% married, 92.65% had formal education and 64.2% had no extension contacts. An average cultured fish farmer in the study area was 41 years old, had 8 years of fishing experience and household size of 8 persons. The costs and returns analysis revealed a net farm incomes of ₦349.40/kg and ₦1,385.08/m2 , gross ratios of 0.57 and 0.44 and return on investment of ₦0.73 and ₦1.23 per kilogram of fish and per meter square pond size respectively. The farmers were not technically efficient with a mean efficiency score of 0.7367. The quantity of feed at 1%, stock density at 1%, fertilizer at 1% and capital input at 10% probability level respectively were efficiency factors while education at 10%, farming experience at 1%, credit access at 5% and extension service at 5% probability level respectively were the inefficiency factors. The study recommended that the research institute with freshwater mandate should collaborate with extension agents in the area to constantly educate the cultured fish farmers on innovations that will improve their profit and level of efficiency.