Improving Clarias Productivity Towards Achieving Food Security in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper aims at carrying out a socio-economic analysis of the productivity of Clarias (Catfish) through a random selection of 50 catfish farmers in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State during 2005/2006 production season. The analysis of the economics of catfish farming was carried out by using two-stage least square regression model, descriptive statistics, Friedman chi-square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The stocking capacity and rate of water change were discovered to be the most significant factors at 5 and 10 % levels of significance respectively. Organic fertilizer was less effective compared to inorganic fertilizer in the study area, though inorganic fertilizer was more expensive. The productivity of the fertilizer types were 2.753 kg/m and2 0.655 kg/stock (for organic fertilizer); 6.397 kg/m and 1.269 kg/stock (for inorganic fertilizer). The problems of2 catfish production included high cost of inorganic fertilizer and unavailability of credit facilities. It is recommended that farmers should embark on practices like formation of cooperatives that would enhance procurement of credit facilities and inorganic fertilizers and other essential inputs. Key words: Socio-economic analysis Clarias Inorganic/organic fertilizers Stocking capacity INTRODUCTION vegetables, fruit, sugar, coffee, tobacco and oilseeds in Aquaculture has primarily been a developing world in Asian aquaculture is attributable to expanded area activity, especially in the Asian countries. Asia accounts and improved productivity. Putting all these statistic