Profitability Analysis of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Production in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State in Nigeria Ojogho O.a, Esimaje T. B.a, Erhabor P. O.b aDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Basic and Applied Science, Benson Idahosa University, Ugbor, Edo State, Nigeria bDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Online published on 9 October, 2012. Abstract The study has examined the profitability of catfish production (clarias gariepinus) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State by finding the characteristics of catfish farms, production costs, revenue, and gross margin. It has also identified the production constraints, and has determined the impact of production costs on gross margin in the study area using both primary and secondary data. The results have shown that more than half of the respondents operated the concrete pond system, stocked, on average, 1368 fishes using more of fingerlings and post-fingerlings bought from hatcheries, harvested an average fish weight of 2078 kg, and a mean total variable cost of  142.52/kg of catfish, making a gross margin of 274/kg of catfish. The study has shown that increase in the cost of feed and disinfectant decreased the gross margin, while increase in the quantity of fertilizer and electricity increased the gross margin. The catfish farming is profitable in the study area but is constrained by lack of financing and expensive input. The study has advised the farmers to source for alternative inputs for production to avoid using expensive inputs, and form or join a co-operative to get assistance in financing their fish enterprise. Top Keywords Economic analysis, catfish, Edo state, Nigeria. Top |