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Practice and Economics of Freshwater Prawn Farming in Seasonally Saline Rice Field in Bangladesh

A.F.Md. Hasanuzzaman
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh.

M.A. Rahman
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh.

S.S. Islam
Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper evaluates the production pattern and economics of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming in seasonally saline rice fields in Bangladesh. The reconnaissance survey was conducted on 30 rice-prawn ghers (RPG) in south-west region of Bangladesh. The farmers were found to use their rice fields for farming prawn and rice (aman) concurrently from April/May to January, and for only rice (boro) from January to April. In the RPG farming system, farmers use rain water during wet season, and underground water with salinity of 1-5 ‰ during dry season. The average production of prawn, aman, and boro was recorded as 439.79±90.46, 3155.48±397.33, 4778.54±389.37 kg/ha/yr, respectively. The economic analysis show potentially good return, and the net return and benefit-cost ratio were US$ 1078.35 and 1.25, respectively. The payback period was determined as 9.37 years. The study implies that the culture of prawn in seasonally saline paddy field is economically viable.

Keywords: Rice-prawn gher system, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Aman, Boro, Salinity

Location: Shyamnagore Upazilla, Satkhira district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2010

End Date: 00-00-2010

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Prawn

Objectives:

To understand the pattern of prawn farming, and its economics in the study areas.

Methodology:

The present study was conducted at three unions namely Atulia, Munsigong and Buri goalini in Shyamnagore Upazilla in Satkhira district of Bangladesh. The water quality of the rivers in this study zone is characterized by noticeable salinity variation throughout the year with the highest salinity of 24 ‰ in May and the lowest of 6 ‰ in October. Although farmers of the study area are traditionally involved in shrimp farming, they have recently changed their attitude and interested to rice-prawn culture with using underground water which is slightly saline. The study was developed on the basis of primary data acquired from direct field survey. The investigation had two distinct phases namely, pilot survey and organized survey. A pilot survey was done with draft questionnaire to have base line information in context of prawn culture system, rice production, prawn production, cost structure, and profitability. Attention was paid to incorporate any new information that had not been written in the draft schedule. Based on the experience gained from the pilot survey, draft questionnaire was then modified and updated into structured questionnaire. The set questionnaire was filled up by asking 30 farmers selected through stratified random sampling (10 farmers from each union). Validation of collected information was done by cross-check interview with Upazilla fisheries officers, relevant non-government organization (NGO) workers, local researchers and leaders. All data collected from questionnaire interviews were compiled, rearranged and presented as descriptive statistics using Microsoft Excel software-2007.

Source of Information: Mesopot. J. Mar. Sci., 2011, 26 (1): 69 - 78

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The prawn farming in seasonally saline paddy field concurrently with rice has been becoming popular as livelihood and additional income generation option in the southwest regions of Bangladesh. Though the farmers use underground low-saline water pumped by shallow-well pump, the farming system was found to be economically profitable. As soil salinization and recent ban on shrimp cultivation in the study areas have been major constraints to the livelihood of the poor marginal farmers, the integration of prawn culture into rice farming is found to be good method of livelihood diversification and ecologically sound as well. However, good farming practice training for farmers, training for seed producers and other relevant stakeholders, formal and well arranged credit system, and agro-fisheries insurance policy are needed to make this RPG system sustainable.

Knowledge Management: Journal