ABSTRACT

The study examines socio-economic factors and resource productivity in fish farming in Abia State using a total of 36 fish farms were selected by the simple random technique. Collection of major qualitative! socio economic and quantitative variables of interest to this study was done using well structured questionnaire, which involved personal interviews with selected fish farms. The socio-economic variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as measures of central tendency (Mean, Median, Mode and Percentage) and dispersion (Standard Deviation and Variance) and their values were used in making necessary conclusions in the study area. The OLS multiple regression technique was used to analyze resource productivity of fish farming in the study area. Resources use efficiency was analyzed using the ration of MVP to MEC while cost and returns was analyzed using the Net Income analysis. Qualitative Variables of lmportance (Socio-Economic and Non-Socio-Economic) showed that improvement in formal education acquisition, special training acquired in areas like Pond Preparation, feed formulation, fish breeding, fish preservation and in addition availability of extension are necessary to educate arid orientate farmers on best methods of management and newest technological development in the fishery sub-sector. The result. obtained showed that cost of labour (X3), Cost of feed (X4), Cost of Fertilizer application (X5) and Overhead cost (X6) were significant and were salient variables that affected output of fish farmers in the study area. The study also revealed that fish farmers were 'I inefficient in the use of all resources used in production. Fish farmers in the study area were most efficient in the use of labour, feed, fertilizer application and overhead cost which were significant at 1%, 10%, 1% and 10% respectively. The cost and returns analysis showed a positive net farm value of N44 1, 060 which implies or shows that fish farming is profitable in the study area. The limiting factors experienced in the study area were high cost of transportation, inaccessible roads to some fish farms, literacy level of farmers which was poor and time. Recommendations include availability of technical information to farmers, proper funding of Fishery Institutes and improved status of education for farmers. Fish farmers in the study area can therefore, increase value of output by increasing use of labour, reduced cost of feed, increase fertilizer application and overhead cost and hence resource productivity of fish farming in the study area can be assured.