Volume 3 (Issue 2) 2023 Article 6

ABSTRACT:

The study examined the profitability of catfish production and also identified the constraints in catfish production in FCT, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select one hundred respondents for the study. Well-structured questionnaires were administered to catfish farmers in the study area. The analytical tools for the study included descriptive statistics and profitability measures such as gross margin, net farm income and return on investment. The study shows that the enterprise is male dominated (86 percent) and most (84%) of the famers are between 25-44 years of age. All the farmers in the study area have some level of formal education and 48% having up to tertiary education. The estimated profit of the enterprise was N209,000.00 and a 0.862 return on capital for the enterprise. Several constraints facing the enterprise in the study area were identified among which are: high cost of feeds, lack or inadequate capital, poor extension services and information dissemination, poor access to credit, inadequate fingerlings, theft, high cost of construction materials and lack or high cost of other inputs. The study therefore recommends that the government should encourage fish production in the study area by subsidizing factor inputs as well as providing credit facilities to fish farmers in order to increase their level production. More so, further research should be carried to develop cheaper but good quality feeds for catfish production.