The study analysed the economics of fish farming in selected local government areas of Taraba state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; (i) describe the socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers in the study area (ii), estimate the cost and returns of fish farming in the study area (iii), determine the relationship between input and output in fish farming in the study area; and (iv), identify the constraints faced by fish farmers in the study area. It utilized mainly primary data. For the purpose of this study, well structured questionnaires were used to collect information from 80 fish farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics such as multiple regression and budgetary analysis were used to analyse collected data. It was observed that; Average output of fish was 992.15kg. The cost and return analysis of the enterprise show that the enterprise is profitable. The double-log functional form of regression was chosen as the lead equation, showing that the output of fish farming is positively associated with pond size and educational level while it is negatively related to contact with extension. The t-ratio for pond size and educational level are significant at 5 percent level while that of contact with extension is significant at 10 percent level. Results from the study indicate that fish farming is a viable and profitable enterprise capable of providing employment opportunities in the rural communities. Based on the findings it was recommended among others that Government organs responsible for fishery development should promote the development of both artisanal and aquaculture so as to meet the fish demand supply deficit in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page - - - - - - - - - - i

Declaration - - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Approval - - - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - v

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - vi

Table of Content - - - - - - - - - vii

List of Tables - - - - - - - - - - x

List of Figures - - - - - - - - - xi

List of Abbreviations - - - - - - - - - xii

Appendices - - - - - - - - - - xiii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - - - 1

1.2 Problem Statement - - - - - - - - 4

1.3 Objectives of the Study - - - - - - - - 5

1.4 Justification of the Study - - - - - - - - 5

1.5 Scope of the Research - - - - - - - - 6

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review - - - - - - - - - 7

2.1 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - - - 7

2.1.1 Production Theory - - - - - - - - 7

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2.1.2 Profit Maximization Theory - - - - - - - 8

2.1.3 Cobweb Theory - - - - - - - - - 9

2.1.4 Theory of Minimization - - - - - - - - 10

2.2 Empirical Framework - - - - - - - - 11

2.2.1 Socioeconomic Characteristics of Fish Farmers- - - - - 11

2.2.2 Cost and Returns of Fish Farming - - - - - - 13

2.2.3 Relationship between input and Output in Fish Farming - - - 14

2.2.4 Constraints faced by Fish Farmers - - - - - - 15

2.3 Analytical Framework - - - - - - - - 16

2.3.1 Profitability Analysis - - - - - - - - 16

2.3.2 Multiple Regression Analysis - - - - - - 17

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study Area - - - - - - - - - 19

3.2 Sampling Procedure - - - - - - 22

3.3. Data Collection Technique - - - - - - - 22

3.4 Data Analysis Technique - - - - - - - - 22

3.5. Model Specification - - - - - - - - 22

3.5.1 Profitability Analysis - - - - - - - - 22

3.5.2 Multiple Regression Model - - - - - - - 23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents - - - - 25

4.1.1 Sex of the respondents - - - - - - - - 25

4.1.2 Age of the respondents - - - - - - - - 26

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4.1.3 Marital Status of the respondents - - - - - - 27

4.1.4 Farm size of the respondents - - - - - - - 28

4.1.5 Household size of the respondents - - - - - - 29

4.1.6 Major occupation of the respondents - - - - - - 30

4.1.7 Educational level of the respondents - - - - - - 31

4.1.8 Source of income of the respondents - - - - - - 32

4.1.9 Farming experience of the respondents - - - - - - 33

4.2 Profitability analysis - - - - - - - - 34

4.3 Relationship between inputs and output in fish farming - - - - 38

4.4 Problems/Constraints faced by fish farmers - - - - - 40

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Conclusion and Recommendation - - - - - - 42

5.1 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 42

5.2 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 42

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - - 44

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1: Sex of the respondents - - - - - - - 26

Table 4.2: Age of the respondents- - - - - - - - 27

Table 4.3: Marital Status of the respondents - - - - - - 28

Table 4.4: Farm size of the respondents- - - - - - - 29

Table 4.5: Household size of the respondents- - - - - - 30

Table 4.6: Major occupation of the respondents- - - - - - 31

Table 4.7: Educational level of the respondents- - - - - - 32

Table 4.8: Source of income of the respondents- - - - - - 33

Table 4.9: Farming experience of the respondents- - - - - - 34

Table 4.10 Cost and returns analysis - - - - - - - 36

Table 4.11: Relationship between inputs and output in fish farming - - - 38

Table 4.12: Constraints faced by fish farmers- - - - - - 41