| Title: | Cost Efficiency and Sustainable Environmental Management in Catfish Production: Evidence from Anambra State, Nigeria |
| Author(s): | Grant Chukwuemeka Onyenma, Peter Ayodeji Ekunwe & Adanna Henri-Ukoha |
| Abstract: | Growing production costs and increasing environmental concerns have intensified the need for aquaculture systems that are both economically efficient and environmentally sustainable. This study examined cost efficiency and sustainable environmental management performance (SEMP) among catfish producers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described producers' socio-economic characteristics, estimated profitability, determined cost efficiency and SEMP, examined the use of Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM) practices and the major production constraints. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 126 catfish producers, while data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Data were analyzed using farm budgeting analysis, stochastic frontier cost function, the Proximity-to-Target Score Approach (PTSA), Probit regression and factor analysis. The results indicate that catfish production was not profitable, with a return on investment of ?0.115. Mean cost efficiency is estimated to be 0.72, indicating that production costs could be reduced by 28% without reducing output. The community average of the SEMP index is estimated as 0.56, suggesting moderate environmental performance. Farming experience, extension contact and SEMP significantly influenced cost efficiency, whereas net income, farming experience and stocking density significantly influenced the use of SEM practices. The study concludes that achieving sustainable catfish production requires the simultaneous improvement of cost efficiency and environmental performance. Policies that strengthen extension services and expand access to affordable credit can support cost-saving production and investment in environmentally sustainable practices. |
| Keywords: | Cost Efficiency; Sustainable Environmental Management Performance; Catfish Production; Sustainable E |
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