Genetically improved farmed tilapia is increasingly getting popular in Bangladesh. It has high production potential. Its dominant production technology ranges from extensive to improved extensive particularly in the rural areas. This study estimates levels and determinants of farm-level technical efficiency of tilapia farmers of Bangladesh using stochastic frontier production function involving a model for technical inefficiency effects. Data from fifty tilapia farmers of Jessore district are used in the analysis. The mean technical efficiency level of the tilapia farmers is 78%, and thus, the farmers operate 22% below the frontier production. Inefficiency effect is significant, and age, education, income, culture length, pond age, pond depth, water colour and pond tenure, as a group, are significant determinants of technical inefficiency. By operating at full technical efficiency levels, tilapia yield can be improved from the current level of 7.36-8.96 tons per hectare. The decision to add or not to add inputs is sometimes taken arbitrarily and not based on technology requirement. There is a lack of understanding of the technology practices. Fisheries extension efforts are required for proper understanding of the technology practices, further adoption and spread. For promotion of tilapia production, quality feed and seed at affordable price needs to be ensured.

No abstract

Problem statement: Scarcity of resources has led to production economists to think about the reallocation of existing resources to produce a prescribed level of output with the minimum cost without changing the production technology. But there is a lack of information about the efficient use of inputs in chili production. Except for a few descriptive studies, econometric analysis has yet to be conducted to examine the production function for chili cultivation and its potential for future improvement in Bangladesh. Approach: In this study an effort was made to assess the level of technical efficiency required for chili production in the administrative district of Jamalpur and also analyzed the status of resource allocation for its production. The Cobb-Douglas stochastic production frontier model was used to analyze the data. Results: The study revealed that cultivation of chili is highly profitable. The net return against cultivating of chili was Tk 73,164 ha^-1 while the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was 1.93. However, all the farmers were not very close to the maximum frontier outputs (efficiency levels varying from 11-96% and their mean efficiency was 77%). Conclusion: On an average, 23% technical inefficiency appears which implies that the output per farm can be increased on an average by 23% through chili production using the prevailing technology and without incurring any additional production cost. Side by side advanced technology (high yielding variety, disease and pest management) could be adapted to increase production of this particular spice

The study has been applied for measuring productivity, profitability and efficiency of shrimp (Penaeusmonodon) farming in Bangladesh. It was found that per hectare gross return (GR), net return and gross margin were Tk. 364,222, Tk. 215,931 and Tk. 260,095, respectively, and Benefit Cost Ratio was 2.46 for shrimp farming. All the explanatory variables had a positive and significant effect, except for cost of lime had a negative and insignificant effect on the GR of shrimp farming. Efficiency analysis indicated that most of the farmers inefficiently used their inputs. This study also identified some of the problems faced by the farmers associated with shrimp farming.

No abstract