Profitability and Resource Use Efficiency of Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) Culture in Southern Districts of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the contribution of the fisheries sector to the socio-economic progress, prosperity and above all poverty alleviation is very important and undeniable. The overall objectives of this study were to assess profitability and resource use efficiency of shrimp farming. The study area was Bagerhat and Khulna district based on intensive cultivation of shrimp. Data was collected from 100 sample farmers by using structured interview schedules as well as simple random sampling techniques. Following data analysis, per-hectare gross margin, net return, and gross return of shrimp farming were determined to be BDT 182503, BDT 83027, and BDT 525000, respectively. The total cost of producing shrimp came out to be BDT 441973.00 per hectare. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was determined to be 1.19. As a result, it was discovered that shrimp farming in the research region was profitable. According to the Cobb-Douglas production function analysis, of the variables in the model, human labor, lime, and fingerlings had a positive and significant impact on the gross production of shrimp farming, while feed and fertilizer had a negligible impact. Additionally, several of the barriers and limitations related to shrimp farming were highlighted in this study. The constraints that the shrimp farmers had to deal with were rated according to matching percentages. To remove all the obstacles, an integrated program for the total growth of shrimp (bagda) farming should be put in place.