Economic Efficiency of Organic Milkfish Aquaculture at Guimaras Island

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the economic analysis of 19 milkfish aquaculture operators in Guimaras to ascertain profitability, sustainability, and productivity of organic intensive aquaculture. Majority of the milkfish growers were sole proprietors and use extensive production system. Financial performance was measured using Return on Investment (ROI) and Payback Period (PBP) and inferentially described using Pearson’s Chi-Square. The organic intensive milkfish aquaculture production system significantly gained the highest ROI and lowest in PBP, followed by extensive, semi-intensive, and inorganic intensive aquaculture system which significantly gained the lowest return on investment and significantly highest in payback period. The intensive milkfish aquaculture system that introduced organic feeds commensurate a significant higher productivity and profitability compared to other milkfish aquaculture system. Greater efforts are made with respect to the sourcing of organic raw materials for the feed industry for sustainability of the growth of the aquaculture sector in the province and Philippines but its formulations must be further improved for better feed conversion efficiency and to minimize environmental impacts.