Measuring technical, allocative and cost efficiency of pangas (Pangasius hypophthalmus: Sauvage 1878) fish farmers of Bangladesh

The present study is conducted to measure the technical (TE), allocative (AE) and cost efficiency (CE) of pangas fish-producing farmers of Bangladesh. Data envelopment analysis is used to measure the efficiency while Tobit regression is applied to identify the factors affecting efficiencies. The estimated mean TE, AE and CEs are 86%, 62% and 54% respectively. Pangas production is characterized by considerable technical inefficiencies and substantial allocative and cost inefficiencies. Pond size, fingerling size, culture length and use of pelleted feed are important determinants of efficiencies. It is nevertheless profitable in terms of benefit-cost ratio, break-even yield and price criteria. Production of pangas can be made further profitable by eliminating inefficiencies. Proper mixing of inputs given their prices could make pangas producers profit maximizers. Efficiency improvement is expected to help to increase production and provide scopes for exporting the surplus production. More fisheries extension is suggested to expand pangas culture and improve efficiency.