INTRODUCTION Fish are important source of protein especially in developing countries. Fish accounted for 20% of animal-derived protein in low income food deficit countries, compared with 13% in the industrialized countries (Christopher et al., 2003). On a global scale, almost 16% of total average intake of animal protein was attributed to fish in 1998 (FAO, 2000). Regionally, these consumptions vary with fish accounting for an average of 30% of consumed animal protein in Asia, 20% in Africa and 10% in Latin America and the Caribbean (Christopher et al., 2003). One of the greatest problems confronting millions of Nigerians today is lack of adequate protein intake both in quality and quantity to feed the ever- growing population. This inadequacy results in problem of malnutrition. The resultant effect of serious deficiency in the amount of protein intake is that people’s health is adversely affected; particularly the mental capability, working productivity and eventually, the overall national economic growth (Okoruwa and Olakanmi, 1999). Fisheries subsector plays some roles in the Journal of Applied Agricultural Research 2014, 6(2): 3-15 ISSN 2006-7496 © Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, 2014 TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF ARTISANAL FISH PRODUCTION IN LOWER OGUN RIVER BASIN AREAS OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA * Aminu, F. O. 1 , Ayinde, I. A. 2 and C. A. Afolami 3 Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria *folajy2003@yahoo.com; +234-8036027236 _______________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT This study investigated the technical efficiency of fisher folks’ households in selected communities of Lower Ogun River Basin Areas of Lagos State. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the fisher folks in the study area, determine the technical efficiency of fish production and identify major constraints faced by the fisher folks in the study area. A total of 120 fisher folks households were sampled through a multi-stage random sampling procedure. Primary data which were obtained through administration of structured questionnaire were used for this study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Stochastic Frontier Production Function. The result revealed that all the household heads sampled were male while 61.7% were within the economically active age group of below 46 years with a mean fishing experience of 19 years. The Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) revealed that number of hooks (P<0.1), labour (P<0.01), number of fishing lines (P<0.01), and number of fishing nets (P<0.05) significantly increased catch level. The inefficiency model revealed that household size (P<0.10) of the fisher folks increased their catch inefficiency while age (P<0.01) and fishing experience (P<0.05) of the sampled fisher folks decreased catch inefficiency. The mean catch efficiency was 0.73 which indicated that an average household could increase their income by 27%. Water hyacinth was reported as the major constraint faced by the fisher folks in the study area. The study concluded that fish catch efficiency can be improved in the study area with better use of inputs and technology such as motorized canoe. It is therefore recommended that modern, intermediate-technology fishing equipment should be made available to the fisher folks with flexible repayment plan. Keywords: Technical efficiency, artisanal fishing, fisher folk, household ________________________________________________________________________ 3