Economic analysis of local and foreign feeds utilization for fish production in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Fish farming is a vital economic activity contributing to food security and employment in many regions. However, feed costs constitute a significant portion of production expenses, necessitating an evaluation of the economic implications of using local and foreign feeds. This study evaluated the economic implications of using local, foreign, and combined feeds in fish farming while analyzing the socioeconomic characteristics of fish farmers and the factors influencing feed choice. Primary data were gathered through structured questionnaires from local fish farmers in the study area, some of the farmers who could not write were interviewed and data analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and a ᵶ -test to determine cost and revenue differences between feed types. Results showed that 66.7% of respondents were male, with an average age of 45 years. The majority (43.3%) had secondary education, and the average annual income from fish farming was ₦450,000. Economic analysis revealed that farmers using both feeds had the highest production cost (₦404,175) but also the highest gross revenue (₦4,327,500). However, those using foreign feed achieved the highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 18.0, compared to local feed (17.2) and combined feeds (13.0). Regression analysis indicated that gender, marital status, educational level, household size, income, access to extension services, and number of fingerlings stocked significantly influenced feed choice (R² = 0.793). The ᵶ -test confirmed a significant difference in costs (ᵶ = 50.851, p <0.05) and revenues (ᵶ = 20.571, p<0.05) between feed types, demonstrating that feed selection greatly impacts profitability. These findings highlight the economic advantage of foreign feeds despite their higher costs. The study showed the importance of education and extension services in optimizing feed selection, aiding policymakers in enhancing fish farming sustainability.