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Freshwater Prawn Farming in Southwestern Bangladesh

N. Ahmed
Department of Fisheries Management Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In Southwestern Bangladesh, thousands of farmers have converted their paddy fields toghers to accommodate a profitable freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergit) culture practice. In gher system, prawn is cultured with fish and rice. Prawn post-larvae are stocked in May to June and are harvested primarily from November to January. Farmers stocked wild post-larvae rather than hatchery-stock, because the survival of wild was much higher than that of hatchery post-larvae. The average stocking rate was found to be 20,680 ha•' gher. A variety of feeds were used but the preferred feed is the freshwater snail, Pita globosa (Swainson). An average 66.46 kg ha^-1day•' of snail meat is given to feed prawn during June to October. The production of prawn is quite variable, because of simple culture method, averaging 432 kg ha^-1The prawn is a highly valued product for the international market and therefore almost all prawns are exported.

Keywords: Prawn, Gher, Farmer

Location: Bagerhat District

Start Date: 00-07-1999

End Date: 00-12-1999

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Prawn

Objectives:

To know the existing prawn farming practice in Southwestern Bangladesh for more prawn production.

Methodology:

The study has been undertaken over six months from July to December 1999, during prawn farming season. Data was collected using questionnaire interviews and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with small groups of 8 to 12 prawn farmers. The total sample numbers of prawn farmers were 400 (Table 1). Farmers for questionnaire interviews were selected through systematic random sampling method. For this method, a data base of prawn farmers was collected from Bagerhat District Fisheries Office. Farmers were interviewed at their house and/or farm-sites. In a given day approximately 8 to 10 interviews were conducted where each interview required about an hour. The PRA tools were used to get an overview of some particular issues like prawn farming into gher systems, constraints of prawn farming etc. Ten FGD were conducted with prawn farmers where each FGD required an hour. Cross check interviews were conducted with key informants such as school teachers, loca! leaders and Thana Fisheries Officers (TFOs) where information was contradictory. Collected data has been analyzed by Microsoft Excel! and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Sci. 30(1): 69-75, January, 2003

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The average stocking rate was found to be 20,680 ha gher. A variety of feeds were used but the preferred feed is the freshwater snail, Pita globosa (Swainson). An average 66.46 kg ha^-1 day' of snail meat is given to feed prawn during June to October. The production of prawn is quite variable, because of simple culture method, averaging 432 kg ha^-1. The prawn is a highly valued product for the international market and therefore almost all prawns are exported.

Knowledge Management: Journal