TECHNICAL AND SCALE EFFICIENCY IN NATIONAL TILAPICULTURE: A STUDY ON FEED AND FINANCING COSTS

• Grant number: 25/02232-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Rural Extension
• Principal Investigator: Omar Jorge Sabbag
• Grantee: Omar Jorge Sabbag
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Leonardo Susumu Takahashi ; Thiago Bernardino de Carvalho

Abstract

The national production of tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) stands out among the four largest producers in the world. Financing plays a crucial role in the growth and modernization of operations; on the other hand, a critical factor in tilapiculture is the cost of feed, which represents a significant portion of total production costs. Within this theme, the present project aims to evaluate the technical and scale efficiency of tilapiculture in Brazil using the DEA methodology, focusing on feed costs and financed values, aiming to optimize the productivity and sustainability of the activity. Methodologically, this applied research combines the qualitative-quantitative approach, through DEA ¿¿evaluation in two stages, using the DEAP 2.1 and SIAD software, applied to input and output variables for a set of DMU's, applying the CCR models (technical efficiency) and BCC (scale efficiency), with output orientation to the models, in order to verify whether the production obtained justifies the amount of resources allocated, in addition to the AHP technique, with the software SuperDecisions, as a decision-making tool applied to the main price-determining factors, to build the process hierarchy. DEA analysis will allow for a detailed performance analysis, providing valuable insights into the use of resources in tilapia production, in other words, given that feed costs represent a significant portion of total costs and financing represents essential support for modernization and expansion of operations, especially to the South and Southeast regions, which account for 71% of cultivation in the country. In this way, this research proposes to identify effective management practices in which efficiency can be improved, ensuring that financial resources and inputs (such as feed) are used in a more productive way, that is, this approach not only helps producers in optimization of production processes, but also supports the formulation of more effective public policies, promoting sustainable and competitive growth for tilapiculture in the country. (AU)