Feed Prices Increase and its Impact on Catfish Farmers

The increase in feed prices would be a big challenge for most farmers due to the fish farm-gate price not significantly increasing. For example, for the catfish (Clarias batrachus) commodity, the feed price at the farm level currently reaches $0.67 - $0.73 per kg, while the total production cost of catfish is around $0.8 - $0.9 per kg per cycle, and the farm-gate price for catfish around $1.07 - $1.13 per kg.

Many farmers are starting to plan to change the catfish to other freshwater fish commodities that are still profitable such as Tilapia or Pangasius. Shortly, it's estimated that there will be a stock shortage for some fish commodities like catfish (Clarias batrachus), while the local market is predicted to be filled with other commodities like Tilapia and Pangasius as well.