Comparative analysis of carp farming costs in Iran, in ۱۹۹۶ and ۲۰۰۱

Carp is one of the most widely cultivated warm water fish, which has been introduced into many countries. It is essential for the manager of a carp farm to know the production costs and their evolution, showing the main inputs on which the cost reduction is worth effort. In Iran, carp farming is mainly based on common carp, silver carp, grass carp, and bighead carp, which were often reared in poly culture. Carp farming production reached a peak in ۲۰۰۶ with production of more than ۷۷,۰۰۰ tones. The characteristics of the carp farming industry in the main fish farming provinces, (overall more than ۹۰% of total carp production) are considerably different. In years ۱۹۹۶ and ۲۰۰۱, a study of yield production, factor costs and profitability of farmed carp was carried out to help clarify carp production costs and their difference between the provinces. ۱۵۳ farms in ۱۹۹۶ and ۱۰۱ farms in ۲۰۰۱, overall, a total of ۲۵۴ farms from the main carp farming provinces, including; Guilan, Mazandaran and Khuzestan were randomly selected, classified and studied. Results showed that the various producer provinces have different cost structures. Overall, feed and fertilizer with the highest level of variation accounted for ۴۵% of total costs in ۱۹۹۶, declined to ۲۳% in ۲۰۰۱. However, on average, cost of seed and labor increased from ۷% and ۱۰% to ۲۳% and ۱۷% of total costs over the ۱۹۹۶ and ۲۰۰۱, respectively. On average, benefit-cost ratio and the rate of farm income were closely related to location suggesting that farmers practiced more efficiently and have better conditions in Guilan in ۱۹۹۶, resulting in higher farm income per ha and per kg, changing to better conditions and more efficient by Mazandaran province in ۲۰۰۱. Overall, in the three main provinces, rate of farm income from an average of ۲۰% in ۱۹۹۶, declined to ۱۲% in ۲۰۰۱.

Keywords:

Carp , Farm , Production , Cost , Benefit , Iran