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Research

Abstract:

Although Bangladesh is considered one of the most suitable countries in the world for freshwater aquaculture, Pabda culture is not widespread. The culture of Pabda has not yet been well established due to socioeconomic, technological, institutional, and marketing constraints. However, while Pabda farming has enormous potential, its production, commercial viability, and sustainability depend on markets. The profitability of Pabda farming is largely determined by market conditions. Genetically improved farmed Pabda is increasingly getting popular in Bangladesh. It has high production potential. The study evaluated the technical efficiency of Pabda catfish production using stochastic frontier production function analysis. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire from sixty farmers who were selected from three Upazila such as Atgharia, Chatmohar, and Bhangra the district of Pabna in Bangladesh using simple random techniques. Frequency tables, percentages, and means were used to present the respondents' socioeconomic profiles and determine the product types and technologies used by catfish farmers in the Pabna district. Results show that majority of the Pabda catfish farmers were male (97%), with a mean age of 47 years, married (75.9%) with a household size of 6 persons on average. Also, the majority (70%) had tertiary education with a mean of about 9 years (±7.3) experience in Pabda catfish farming. Most of the Pabda catfish farmers preferred to raise catfish to table size and used static renewal technology (62%). Also, feed inputs and pond size had a positive relationship with output while fingerling had a positive relationship with production. An increase in the number of fingerlings stocked in ponds will increase the production of catfish. Also, about 65% of the Pabda catfish farmers had technical efficiency scores of 60% or less. Access to, household size, and years of experience in Pabda catfish farming were factors that contribute significantly and positively to the technical efficiency of catfish farms except for education. The mean technical efficiency level of the Pabda catfish farmers is 85%. Government should introduce training workshops, especially for fresh school leavers in order to encourage greater participation in the sector. Also, extension visits should be increased in order to improve the experience and efficiency of catfish farmers

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