Production performance and financial feasibility analysis of farming catfish (Clarias gariepinus) utilizing water exchange system, aquaponic, and biofloc technology

Abstract

Catfish farming has long been carried out by local farmers with various systems and technologies. A reduction of land and water availability in urban aquaculture has been stimulate the application of aquaponic and biofloc technology. In this study, we aimed to analyze production performance, financial feasibility, and sensitivity analysis in catfish farming through a different farm system including water exchange system, aquaponic and biofloc technology. A case study was used from catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) farmers in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. The production performance analyzed is the total production, productivity and survival. Financial feasibility analysis used cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and sensitivity analysis is carried out on changes in the amount of production based on the survival value. The results showed that the best productivity of catfish was obtained from a water exchange system with a production value of 4038.0 ± 6.0 kg, productivity 168.0 ± 2.0 kg per m 2 , and the survival of 79.4 ± 2.2%. The financial feasibility analysis suggested that the water exchange system was US$ 4204.29 (NPV), 12.52 (BCR), and 301.82% (IRR), in the aquaponic was US$ 5048.3 6 (NPV), 12.57 (BCR) and 303.48% (IRR) and for biofloc technology was US$ 2242.23 (NPV), 7.67 (BCR), and 184.07% (IRR), analysis period was five years. The sensitivity analysis shows that the limit of reduction in survival value in water exchange catfish culture, aquaponic, and biofloc technology are 64.0%, 60.0% and 64.0% respectively. Our study showed that the production and financial performance of catfish farming using biofloc technology produces the lowest value compared to the other two systems. It was found that the farmers have not implemented the biofloc technology procedures correctly and have not routinely monitored water quality in all systems and technologies. Still, we were able to acknowledge this issue in hope that we can fix it in the future.