PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF CATFISH PRODUCTION AMONG SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN OGBARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study was conceptualized to analyze the profitability of catfish production among small holder farmers in Ogbaru Local Government Area. The specific objectives were to; describe the socioeconomic characteristics of catfish farmers; estimate costs and returns of catfish production and identify the constraints faced by catfish farmers in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of location and respondents. The data were collected from100 catfish small scale farmers, the primary instrument used for the collection was structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gross margin model. The study showed that majority of the respondents was married females below the age of 45 years. The farmers had an average total cost of N2, 199,475 and made average total revenue of N4, 050,000. This reveals a net farm income of N1, 800,525. This study concludes that catfish production is very profitable in the study area. The study recommended that educated unemployed youths should be encouraged to go into fish farming since the business is very profitable.