Resource Efficiency and Economic Efficiency in Fish Farming in the South-east of Côte d’Ivoire

Using DEA model and cost-benefit analysis, this study analyzes resource efficiency and economic efficiency of 32 fish farms in the South-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. Results showed that the mean scores of technical and economic efficiency are respectively 0.575 and 0.553. There is a positive relationship between technical efficiency and economic efficiency, indicating that the farms that produce efficiently are likely to generate maximum revenue. Trained fish farmers using industrial food are the most technically and economically efficient, followed by untrained fish farmers with high level of experience who reformulate themselves their fish feed. The results of resource efficiency indicated that fish farms generate waste in the use of resources (feed, fingerling, water and land).On the other hand, the optimal management simultaneously to a minimization in the use of resources and maximization of production could help to increase production level of 16.18%. Finally, the cost-benefit analysis showed that, on average, fish farms achieve a positive gross and net margin. The results show the important role of governments in fish farmer’s access to feed and fingerlings. Promote and support research in the formulation of local feed available at lower costs; strengthen cooperation with private sector partners to enable extension and support services, to appropriate new production techniques and disseminated to farmers, are the main recommendations of the study.