A REVIEW OF PRODUCTION FRONTIER RESEARCH IN AQUACULTURE (2001–2011)

Abstract

Most research works on the production frontier in aquaculture focus on efficiency measurement using either Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) or Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The studies on productivity growth in aquaculture were limited, perhaps due to lack of time-series data. Nevertheless, total factor productivity analysis (TFP) in fish farms has started gaining popularity in recent years. In addition, the majority of the efficiency studies have centered on technical efficiency analysis but substantial increases in the output levels can be fully realized through improving overall economic efficiency. Therefore, this review suggests that future research should estimate all three efficiency indices (i.e., technical, allocative and economic efficiencies).

Keywords:

• aquaculture
• efficiency
• production frontier
• productivity
• review

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We sincerely thank Dr. Lawan Adamu of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Shamsuddeen Rufai of Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia for the proofreading of this manuscript. Their comments and suggestions have contributed much in improving the article.

Notes

¹With undesirable outputs.

²Without undesirable outputs.

¹Shellfish producer using groundwater.

²Shellfish producer not using groundwater.

³Non-Shellfish producer using groundwater.

⁴Non-Shellfish producer not using groundwater.

⁵Pond area ≤ 0.32 acre.

⁶Pond area > 0.32 acre.

⁷Technical advice receiving farmers.

⁸Training receiving farmers.

⁹Normal farmers.

^a Extensive/semi-intensive.

^b Semi-intensive/intensive.

^c Training receiving farmers.

^d Credit and technical advice receiving farmers.

^e Normal fish farmers.

^f Freshwater.

^g Brackish water.

*Significant at 1%, **significant at 5%.