International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) |Volume IX, Issue IX, September 2022|ISSN 2321-2705
Ologidi, P.O*, Amaegberi H., and Onuche, U.
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: This study examined the cost, returns and constraints to catfish production in Lokoja and Yenagoa metropolis in Kogi and Bayelsa state respectively, with the aim to ascertain the similarities and differences in the cost, returns and constraints of the two metropolises. Lokoja Metropolis has a population of 300 farmers and Yenagoa 370 farmers. A total of 90 catfish farmers from Lokoja and 110 from Yenagoa metropolis were surveyed using random sampling. Profitability analysis was done using gross margin analysis (GM), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and a mean position analysis utilising a 3-point Likert scale in ordering the biasness of the constraints. The study revealed Gross margin and benefit cost ratio to be N596.6 with a standard deviation of 68.9 and 2.2 for Lokoja metropolis and N692.95 with a standard deviation of 69.0 and 2.23 respectively for Yenagoa metropolis. The major constraints for both metropolises are inadequate finance, high cost and poor quality of fish seed, lack of adequate land, high cost of fish feed, inaccessibility to credit, high cost of hired labour and poor extension services. Recommendations from the study include Catfish farmers should form cooperatives/farmers/association to be a bloc to pool resources, ideas and gains. The government should inject the needed subsidies to boost the growth and development of cat fish production in Nigeria.
Key words: Cost, Returns, Constraints, Kogi and Yenagoa Metropolis
I. INTRODUCTION
Catfish production makes an important contribution to the Nigerian economy. The enterprise serves as a source of income, employment and generates the Gross Domestic Product – GDP (Dizyee, Williams, Anastasiou, Powell, Shikuku, Tran and Siriwardena, 2022). In most countries catfish fetch a higher market price than tilapia previously having reported a market value of two to three times that of tilapia (Bentley, 2021; Emokaro, 2010). The importance of catfish production cannot be overemphasized, according to Bentley (2021), catfish provide high quality animal protein with low cholesterol content that ensures improved nutrition security among the population. It requires less space, time, money and has a higher feed conversion. Catfish farming is a crucial aqua cultural enterprise which requires fish production facilities such as ponds, feed production and storage facilities, adequate water supply, and other necessary equipment depending on the scale of production and production systems employed (Engle, Hanson and Kumar, 2022).