2026 Vol-6 Issue-1 | TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY OF CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) PRODUCTION ACROSS POND CULTURE SYSTEMS IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The study analysed the technical efficiency and profitability of Catfish production across pond cultures system in Plateau State, Nigeria. Amulti-stage sampling technique was used to select 273 Catfish farmers across the concrete pond, earthen pond and plastic tank Catfish production models. Primary data were collected for the study with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using Stochastic Production Frontier Model, Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and Net Farm Income. The technical efficiency result showed farmers under concrete pond and plastic tank cultures required about 4.1% and 2.4% efficiency improvement respectively to attain status of the most efficient farmer. Under the earthen pond culture however, the catfish farmers needed about 30% efficiency improvement to be fully efficient. Age, sex, marital status, farm records, education, farming experience and extension visit were the variables that significantly influenced technical inefficiency under concrete and earthen ponds respectively. The result further shows that the plastic tank culture has the highest net farm income (N314,196.54) among the three pond culture systems analysed in the study area. The one-way analysis of variance results showed significant difference (p < 0.001) among the Catfish production across pond culture systems. It is recommended, Plateau State Government should provide trainings and credit facilities to concrete and earthen pond Catfish farmers.