Analysis of the factors influencing catfish production in Jos metropolis, Plateau State, Nigeria

Catfish production is a significant contributor to the aquaculture industry with a growing demand in domestic and international markets. This study therefore examined the factors influencing catfish production in Plateau State. A stratified sampling procedure was utilized to select catfish farmers, ensuring a representative sample. Data collection was facilitated through a questionnaire, and subsequent analysis employed a combination of descriptive statistics, marginal value product analysis, and regression analysis. The study found that most respondents were aged 36-45 (42.5%), with the next largest group being 46-55 (25%). Households of 4-6 members were most common (45%), while those with fewer than 3 members were least common (7.5%). Additionally, frequent visits or contacts from extension agents positively influenced catfish production outcomes. The results of the regression analysis of the factors affecting catfish production in the study area shows that the model had an R2 value of 0.933, which implies that about 93.3% of the variation in catfish production was explained by variables included in the model while the remaining 6.7% was as a result of the non – inclusion of other important explanatory variables as well as errors in estimation. The F ratio (45.109) was statistically significant (p<0.01). This implies that the explanatory variables adequately explained the model. The study recommends establishing cooperative unions among catfish farmers to facilitate collective access to credit and essential inputs.