ABSTRACT

This study examined the economics of Arabic crop production in Umuahia South L.G.A, Abia State of' Nigeria. A multi stage random sampling method was used to select 60 Arabic farmers from the three selected zones of' the state. Data, which comprised information on the socio economic characteristics and other quantitative variables relevant to the study, were collected using a well-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The socio economic characteristics and constraints to catfish production were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage response, mean and frequencies. Descriptive analysis reveals the mean age of the respondents to he 44.33 years, mean of the household to he 6 persons and I 00% of the respondents to be Christians. Results obtained from the socio economic characteristics of the respondents also showed the study area was dominated by male catfish farmers. The major constraints of catfish farmers were high cost of' feeding, poor access to credit and mortality due to pest and diseases. Budgetary analysis was used to determine profitability of catfish production in the study area with an average total cost of NI,221 ,358.38, average revenue of' N2,226,664.67and net return of' NI ,005,306.29 which shows that catfish production is a profitable enterprise. Regression analysis was used to determine factors influencing profitability of catfish production. The result from the regression analysis reveals the coefficient for cost of pond construction and cost of fingerlings was significant at 1% and positively related to output. Amount spent on labour! salary was significant and positively to profitability related at % significance while the coefficients of age and education were negatively signed hut not significant. Access to extension, experience and cost of feed wei'e positively signed hut not significant.