A Study of Cost Reduction Techniques for Tilapia Feeding Farm In the Case of Fish Farms in Mahasarakham Province

Abstract

 The objective of this study was to compare the cost of fish farming in cages as practiced by businesses to the cost of fish farming in cages based on a cost reduction model which uses animal feed instead of fish pellets. Three fish farmers were interviewed, namely, the first enterprise (50 cages), the second enterprise (30 cages), and the third enterprise (20 cages). Secondary data was collected for cost calculation. The cost of fish farming is divided into two main processes: cages building and two periods of fish farming including fishes of 100-200 grams of size and market-sized fish. The results showed that the cost of feeding with animal feed during the two periods of fish farming was lower than the cost of feeding with fish pellets. In the period of farming fishes of 100-200 grams of size, cost of feeding with fish pellets of enterprise 1, enterprise 2, and enterprise 3 were 348,000 baht/50 cages, 204,600 baht/30 cages, and 93,600 baht/20 cages, respectively. While, feeding with animal feed decreased the cost by 38.82 percent, 42.42 percent, 34.21 percent, respectively. In the period of farming market-sized fish, cost of feeding with fish pellets of enterprise 1, enterprise 2, and enterprise 3 were 1,344,000 baht/50 cages, 369,600 baht/30 cages, and 280,800 baht/20 cages, respectively. While, feeding with animal feed decreased the cost by 40.14 percent, 39.31 percent,34.33 percent, respectively.