COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CAT FISH PRODUCTION UNDER EARTHEN AND CONCRETE POND SYSTEMS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Catfish, Earthen pond, Concrete pond and Economic benefitAbstract
This study compares the economic benefits of catfish production under the earthen and concrete ponds in Ondo
State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used for the random selection of one hundred and eighty
(180) catfish farmers with equal number of earthen pond and concrete pond users. Data collected were analyzed
using descriptive statistics and the profitability function to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of
respondents and their profitability respectively. The results indicated that there were more male (85.6%) than
female (76.7%) users of both methods that are still in their active age of production. At least half of the
respondents are married and have mean production experience ranging between 6.3 and 5.8 years. A major
number of the respondents employed both family and hired labour. The profitability analysis results showed
that earthen pond users realized 53.8% profit higher than concrete pond users. The benefit cost ratio of 1.54 and
1.25 for earthen pond and concrete ponds respectively, also indicated that catfish rearing under earthen ponds
were more profitable in the area. This could however, be as a result of high cost of pond construction associated
with concrete pond system. It could also be as a result of sizes of ponds which are usually smaller in concrete
than earthen ponds, since size is a major determinant factor in stocking and production volume. The major
constraints to catfish production were high cost of feeding, capital and lack of organized market. However, the
benefit cost ratio of 1.54 and profitability ratio of 0.54 in earthen pond system further confirmed that catfish
production business is more profitable and viable enterprise which can drive high income generation for
farmers when practiced than concrete pond system. It is recommended that catfish farmers be encouraged to
invest more on earthen pond system of culturing catfish than concrete pond in the area