Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Catfish Farming in Edo State, Nigeria

This study examined the technical efficiency (TE) of fish farming in Edo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents from whom data was collected using well-structured questionnaire and interview schedules. These were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The result showed that the TE of the farmers ranged from 0.46 to 0.99, with a mean of 0.95 at which 77% of them were operating. The efficiency was significantly (p<influenced positively by stocking rate and negatively by the farmers’ age, educational level as well as poor access to extension services. Serious constraints that affected optimum production include high cost of feed, limited capital, poor power supply, high cost of pond construction, disposal of effluents, increased fish price created by middlemen and inadequate water supply. Determination of efficiency of resource use revealed that pond size, fingerlings, feeds and  fixed cost of items were underutilized while labour and operating cost were over utilized.  Farmers’ access to suitable extension services and the implementation of policies aimed at tackling the detected constraints would help to increase the efficiency of fish farming in the state. Keywords: Technical efficiency, Fish farming, Pond, Resource use, Edo Stat

Financing Agro-Based Small and Medium Scale Enterprises by Selected Commercial Banks in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the financing agro-based small and medium scale enterprises by selected commercial banks in   Enugu state, Nigeria. It specifically sought to ascertain the quantum of loans disbursed to the small and medium scale agro-based enterprises by the selected banks in the study area as well as the factors that determined such disbursements. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted in this study. Three Banks, namely First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc were purposively selected because they are among the top lenders to agro-based enterprises and some other economic activities in the state. Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources and analyzed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The bulk of the sampled small scale agro-based enterprises (76.67%) accessed between N200,000 and N600,000 ($1,256.25 and$3,750) while 56.67% of the medium scale agro-based enterprises obtained a loan of N1,000,000 ($6,250). This amount accessed is too small when viewed against the high cost of doing business in Nigeria. Determinant variables such as age of entrepreneurs, interest rate, enterprise experience, category of enterprises, rate of loan repayment, and business turnover were all found to be critical factors that influence the amount of loan that are given to SMEs. It is therefore the recommendation of this study that there is need for the banks to increase the amount of loan disbursed to agro-based SMEs in other to improve and increase their production