Production Function Analysis of Shrimp Farming in the Raigad District of Maharashtra, India
D. R. Palwe
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India and Maharashtra Gene Bank project, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
B. M. Yadav *
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India and Taraporevala Marine Biological Research Station, Panvel, Maharashtra, India.
K. J. Chaudhari
College of Fisheries, Fisheries Engineering and Polytechnic, Ratnagiri, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
S. M. Wasave
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
S. V. Patil
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
S. S. Gangan
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
B. V. Naik
College of Fisheries, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
M. N. Nasre
Department of Fisheries Resources Economics Statistics and Extension Education, College of Fisheries, Dr. B. S. Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra-415629, India.
Muneshwar PavanKalyan
Department of Fisheries Extension Economics Statistics, College of Fishery Science, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India.
Pankaj Sidam
Department of Fisheries Resources Economics Statistics and Extension Education, College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra-415629, India.
Talib Mohammad
Department of Fisheries Extension Economics Statistics, College of Fishery Science, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, India.
M. M. Devkate
Centre of Excellence in Fisheries Entrepreneurship Development, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Shrimp farming contributes to coastal aquaculture production, but the relationships between production inputs and yield may differ according to farm size. This study examined these relationships among shrimp farms in the Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. Primary information was obtained through structured interviews with all 70 operational farms identified among 78 registered farms in Shrivardhan, Murud, Alibag and Uran. A Cobb–Douglas production function was estimated for four farm-size categories (0–2, 2–4, 4–6 and >6 ha) and for the aggregate sample, using feed, seed, labour, lime and bleaching powder as explanatory inputs. Feed elasticities for the four categories were 0.324, 0.518, 0.933 and 0.884, respectively; corresponding seed elasticities were 0.639, 0.603, 0.020 and 0.151. In the aggregate model, estimated feed and seed elasticities were 0.646 and 0.390, respectively. Reported coefficients of determination ranged from 0.900 to 0.992 across farm-size groups, with an aggregate value of 0.908. Other input coefficients were generally smaller, and negative estimates occurred for labour and bleaching powder in selected larger farm categories. Overall, the estimates indicate that feed and seed are important correlates of shrimp production in the surveyed farms, although their relative contributions vary by farm size. These results provide a local basis for examining input allocation in shrimp farming without establishing causal effects or optimal application rates.
Keywords: Shrimp aquaculture, Cobb–Douglas production function, production elasticity, feed in-puts, shrimp seed, resource-use efficiency