Analytical Hierarchical Process and Cost Benefit Analysis for Evaluation of Alabama Catfish Profitability and Sustainability

Catfish production has experienced a decline in the past two years, and farmers have been blaming international competition, exports, low prices and poor feed conversion ratios as the main causes. We evaluate the usefulness of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) as instruments for rapid evaluation of farmers‚ problems, the profitability and sustainability of aquaculture systems in Alabama. In April 2010, tests of the instruments were conducted among five farmers. A survey was then administered to 27 Alabama farmers and specialists involved in large-scale catfish production and marketing. Participants displayed unanimity in their responses. All IRs were less than 0.1. The variables: the‚ improvement in technology‚ and the‚ reduction of disease problems‚ received the highest ranks. Embedded in the response of technological innovation is the improvement in feed conversion ratio. This criterion received a rank of 75% higher than the second highest ranked criteria, which is‚ increase harvest frequency. In last place were reduction in selling cost and burglary/theft. Government influence received a low ranking, but research and extension received average scores. The participants did not rate trade highly and only accorded average importance to environmental sustainability. The CBA analysis shows that catfish farming in Alabama on a 60-acre pond is profitable in the long run, given the RRR of 8%. Based on participants‚ ranking of needs, if a 12% increase in technological change is attained, profitability will increase by 20%. The improvements can be obtained from increasing feed conversion efficiencyKeywords: Fisheries Economics, Fish and Aquaculture Sectors' Development, The Economics of Aquaculture Production and Profitability Part IIIKeywords: Fisheries Economics, Fish and Aquaculture Sectors' Development, The Economics of Aquaculture Production and Profitability Part II

The Economics of Kappaphycus Seaweed Cultivation in Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Farming Systems

The farming of the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii and related species as raw material for the hydrocolloid carrageenan rapidly spread from the Philippines in the late 1960s to Indonesia, Tanzania, and other tropical countries around the world. Although numerous studies have documented positive socioeconomic impacts for seaweed farming, factors such as diseases and distance to export markets have led to an uneven development of the industry. Using standard budgeting techniques, this study adapted production and market data from a FAO-led global review of seaweed farming to develop comparative enterprise budgets for eight farming systems in six countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, India, Solomon Islands, and Mexico). Although the basic technology package is the same across countries, the study revealed large differences in the economic performance of systems due to wide variations in farm prices and the scale of operations. Although seaweed farming is a suitable activity for small-scale producers, a minimum of 2,000m of cultures lines are still necessary to ensure adequate economic returns. Greater farming plots may be needed if farm prices are well below the average farm prices paid in Indonesia and the Philippines. Policy recommendations are made to improve the economic potential of underperforming systems

Factors influencing the Environmental and Financial Sustainability of Aquaculture Production in Jamaica

We use the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) to evaluate the profitability and sustainability of aquaculture in Jamaica. We also examine the combined application of these methods to provide holistic and reliable information. In March 2010 we administered the AHP and the CBA survey instruments among 27 Jamaicans engaged in large- and medium-scale tilapia production and marketing. The overall ranking of criteria is reliable, with an inconsistency ratio (IR) of 0.075. Participants classified ‘better feed conversion ratio’ as their first criteria for increasing profitability and sustainability, with a rank score (RC) of 0.050. In second and third places were ‘decreased disease problems’ and ‘decreased mortality,’ with RCs of 0.036 and 0.031, respectively. The net operating income ($33,103.05), the IRR of 30.36% and P.I of 1.55 shows that tilapia production is profitable and feasible. When participants’ preferences of methods for improving fish production and marketing from the AHP results were considered, fish production and marketing in Jamaica became more profitable and sustainable. The results show that the AHP method provides unique ranking of stakeholders’ preferences and, when combined with the CBA, generates solid analyses for evaluating the profitability and sustainability of aquaculture enterprises

Commercial aquaculture in Southeast Asia: Some policy lessons

Globally aquaculture has been increasing rapidly and already accounts for nearly half of all food fish consumed. For developing countries, which produce 90% of the world's output, aquaculture is a source of protein, employment, income and of foreign exchange. Southeast Asia is an area which has experienced this "blue revolution". Total aquaculture output in the region increased from less than two million tonnes in 1990 to more than eight million tonnes in 2006. Moreover, the region's pace of expansion has accelerated. Annual average growth rates in output from 2000 to 2006 were more than double those from 1990 to 2000. Already more than a quarter of food fish in Southeast Asia comes from aquaculture. Aquaculture matters because fish products are important in the diet of much of Southeast Asia. The population generally has a high per capita consumption of fish, and fish are a major source of animal protein in a region where levels of animal protein are below the world average. Output from the capture fisheries has increased but growth rates are slowing. To maintain present levels of per capita consumption of fish in the region, whose average population is projected to grow by 16% by 2015, requires continued expansion of aquaculture. The paper focuses on commercial or profit-oriented aquaculture. It produces protein, but also rural employment and income. It also has the potential to generate taxes for governments and foreign exchange, and by improving economic efficiencies and competitiveness hold down the cost of aquatic products. Contributing to food security, rural livelihoods and economic growth, aquaculture is an important and growing sector in the region and merits study. It is hoped that lessons learnt can be useful to other parts of the world.Commercial aquaculture Southeast Asia Policies Food security

Farming the waters for people and food : proceedings of the global conference on aquaculture 2010

The Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010 brought together a wide range of experts and important stakeholders and reviewed the present status and trends in aquaculture development, evaluated the progress made in the implementation of the 2000 Bangkok Declaration and Strategy, addressed emerging issues relevant to aquaculture development, assessed opportunities and challenges for future aquaculture development and built consensus on advancing aquaculture as a global, sustainable and competitive food production sector. This volume, yet another joint effort of FAO and NACA, brings the outcome of the Global Conference on Aquaculture 2010, the much-needed clear and comprehensive technical information on how aquaculture could be mobilized to alleviate global poverty and improve food and nutrition security in the coming decades

Not Available

Not AvailableThe farming of the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii and related species as raw material for the hydrocolloid carrageenan rapidly spread from the Philippines in the late 1960s to Indonesia, Tanzania, and other tropical countries around the world. Although numerous studies have documented positive socioeconomic impacts for seaweed farming, factors such as diseases and distance to export markets have led to an uneven development of the industry. Using standard budgeting techniques, this study adapted production and market data from a FAO-led global review of seaweed farming to develop comparative enterprise budgets for eight farming systems in six countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, India, Solomon Islands, and Mexico). Although the basic technology package is the same across countries, the study revealed large differences in the economic performance of systems due to wide variations in farm prices and the scale of operations. Although seaweed farming is a suitable activity for small-scale producers, a minimum of 2,000m of cultures lines are still necessary to ensure adequate economic returns. Greater farming plots may be needed if farm prices are well below the average farm prices paid in Indonesia and the Philippines. Policy recommendations are made to improve the economic potential of underperforming systems.Not Availabl