Profitability Analysis of Concrete and Earthen Ponds Catfish Production Systems in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analyzed comparatively catfish production systems for concrete and earthen ponds in Rivers, Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to describe the type of fish farming practices and characteristics of fish farmers in the study areas, estimate costs and returns relationship of concrete and earthen ponds catfish production systems and compare the profitability. Many fish farmers would opt for concrete or any other enclosure rather than earthen based on space manageability and not because it is essentially more profitable. The data were gotten from primary data sources. Primary data was collected through well- structured copies of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean scores) and inferential statistics (T-test) analysis were used for the analysis of collected data. The results showed that the Gross Marginal Index (GMI) was N110,003,016 for concrete and N49,454,029 for earthen pond with a profitability ratio of 0.32 and 0.38 respectively. Rate of Return on investment 24.2% and 27.5% respectively which implies the difference in cost and returns for concrete and earthen pond production systems. The t-test results showed no significant difference in the output level of catfish in concrete and earthen pond systems (t- calculated = 0.835 < t-critical = 0.96). The study concluded that there is no much difference in the production of catfish when using either a concrete or an earthen pond. The study recommends that catfish farmers should be trained on how to manage hatchery in order to be able to provide their own fingerlings for production. Also good water facilities should be made available to catfish farmers by the government and private bodies.

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