Title:
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF FISH FARMERS USING CONCRETE AND EARTHEN POND SYSTEMS IN MAKURDI METRO POLIS OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Authors:
F.O. Ogebe, D.A. Idoko, and D.P. Ani

Abstract:
The study compares the technical efficiency of fish farmers using concrete and earthen pond systems in Makurdi Metropolis of Benue State, Nigeria. Primarydata were collected with the use of structured questionnaires randomly administered to 40 respondents. The stochastic production analysis was applied to estimate and compare the technical efficiency among fish farmers using concrete and earthen pond systems in the study area. The results of the return to naira invested showed that earthen pond system yieldedN0.50 while concrete pond system yielded N0.30. The mean gross margin for concrete pond wasN357, 800 and N378, 445 for earthen pond. Similarly, return to investment (profit) for concrete and earth pond systems wereN166, 600 and N221, 535 respectively. The stochastic frontier production function models revealed that number of fingerlings and quantity of feeds used were found to be significant factors that contributed to the technical efficiency of concrete pond systems while number of labor used and fingerlings were significant factors in earthen pond type. The results further, revealed that years of experience, age, household size and annual income were the significant factors in the inefficiency sources model while only age was the significant factor in the earthen pond system in the inefficiency model. On the basis of these findings, the study concluded that fish production in the study area is economically rewarding and profitable. It is capable of creating employment, augmenting income and improving the standard of living of the people. Therefore, it is recommended that government provides a conducive environment for the establishment of more earthen and concrete ponds in a bid to alleviate poverty status and unemployment in the State.