Total factor productivity and technical efficiency differences of aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh: Do environmental characteristics matter?

Abstract

This study examines how production environment characteristics affect total factor productivity (TFP) and technical efficiency (TE) in aquaculture farms. Enhancing productivity is important for increasing resource use efficiency, especially in developing countries where improvements in the aquaculture sector can enhance food security for low‐ and middle‐income people and improve farmer livelihood. In the present study, 580 aquaculture farms from different areas of Bangladesh were sampled using stratified random sampling techniques. A Fisher quantity index and data envelopment analysis were used to analyze TFP and TE, respectively. In addition, a rank‐sum test was used to investigate how production environment characteristics affect TFP and TE. The results show that farmers could significantly reduce input while maintaining the same level of output. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the TFP and TE of a farm are significantly affected by environmental characteristics, varying with geographical variation in water availability, color, and plants; feed types; and culture systems. Dissemination of the results through training programs and extension services provided by public or private stakeholders could help extensive pond farmers in developing countries improve productivity and efficiency and thereby help provide food and improve livelihood conditions in developing countries.

Production risk, technical efficiency, and input use nexus: Lessons from Bangladesh aquaculture

“…Networking through the extension service is the most important factor for reducing inefficiency. Different farm management practices, knowledge of inputs, and information related to the latest technologies and markets help to improve the efficient use of inputs and modern technology adoption, which improve farm efficiency (Mitra et al, 2020; Rahman, Nielsen, Khan, & Asmild, 2019). Farmers face different types of problems with regard to water quality, soil quality, temperature, and disease during the culture period.…”

“…Bangladesh is the fifth largest aquaculture producer in the world, and aquaculture production provides 56% of the total fish production in the country, mostly originating from earthen‐pond farms (Department of Fisheries, 2017–18). In Bangladesh, the production and productivity of aquaculture has generally been increasing; however, variation in productivity occurs from farm to farm (Rahman, Nielsen, & Khan, 2019) and within different locations and environments (Mitra, Khan, Nielsen, & Islam, 2020; Rahman, Nielsen, Khan, & Asmild, 2019), which may indicate substantial production risk in pond aquaculture. Production factors that are associated with risk may lead to inefficient use of these inputs.…”

COVID-19's effects and adaptation strategies in fisheries and aquaculture sector: An empirical evidence from Bangladesh

“…Fish farming has grown dramatically in Bangladesh in recent decades because of the commercialization of aquaculture farms ( Khan et al, 2018 ; Mitra et al, 2020 ; Mitra et al, 2019 ). Around 17 million people rely on the fishing, farming, fish handling, and processing industries for livelihood ( BFTI, 2016 ).…”

Water Color Identification System for Monitoring Aquaculture Farms

“…Fishing regulations and ocean environment conservation are helpful for striking a balance between food and sustainability. The production of captured fisheries has stagnated since the 1990s, and aquaculture production appears to be the solution to fill this shortage in consumption requirements [ 2 ]. However, aquaculture production must also continuously increase to meet the demand for food given the growing population.…”