Production Analysis of Catfish Farming In Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Production of fish has not been able to meet the ever increasing demand. This study examined the productivity of small-scale catfish production in Epe LGA Lagos State, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from 50 respondents drawn from five communities using simple random technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, elasticity of and multiple regression technique. Regression analysis was employed to determine the relationship between output and input. Using the data obtained, four functional forms was tried and the semi-logged functional form best fit the data based on F-value, R2 and the number of significant variables is statistically significant at 1% and the result of the adjusted R2shows that 83% of the variation in output was explained by the independent variables included in the model. The tstatistics indicated that rent on land, stocking density, cost of fingerlings and transportation costs were significant in influencing output, although salaries and wages showed a negative significant relationship. However, despite high cost of feed, it influenced on output was not statistically significant, which was as a result of using local feeds in addition to manufactured fish feeds in order to reduce cost of feeding. Farmers should reduce the cost incurred on salary and wages by reducing the number of labourer on the farm.