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Status of Fish Farmer and Farming Conditions in Syedpur Upazila Under Nilphamari District

MD. ABU-BIN-AZAD
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the status of fish farmer and farming conditions in some selected areas of Syedpur upazila under Nilphamari district. In order to determine the status of fish farmer and farming conditions, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the entire Upazila. Data were collected from 50 pond owners for a period of five months from January to May, 2014. Based on a sample of 50 fish farmers, it was understood that most of the farmers (88%) were involved in carp polyculture (i.e. Indian major carp and exotic carp) with tilapia and only 12% farmers were involved in mono sex tilapia culture system. The present study indicated that a large number of farmers (46%) started fish farming before one to five years, 36% before six to ten years and only 18% farmer before eleven to fifteen years in the study area. It was found that the average pond size was 0.22 ha (55 dec) with a range from 0.04 hac (11 dec) to 1.215 ha (300 dec). Fish fingerlings were stocked when they became available in March to May. The average stocking density of carp (including tilapia) was found to be 15,320 fingerling/hac. The average dose of organic fertilizer was 2964 kg/ha/yr and inorganic fertilizer such as urea and TSP was 308 kg/hac/yr and 197 kg/ha/yr, respectively. It was also found that the average annual yield was 2593.5 kg/ha/yr and average annual income of fish farmers was 58306 Tk/hac/yr. Lack of proper management, theft, lack of technical knowledge, disease of fishes, insufficient water in dry season, higher production cost (mainly feeds and seeds), insufficient supply of fry and fingerlings, lack of money and inadequate extension services were the most important constraints for fish production in the surveyed area. It is therefore, necessary to provide training to the farmers, to establish hatcheries for sufficient supply of seed, institutional and policy supports and proper credit facilities for sustainable fish production as well as sustainable livelihood of the poor farmers.

Keywords: Fish farmer, Farming condition, Syedpur upazilla, Nilphamari district

Location: Syedpur upazila, Nilphamari district

Start Date: 00-01-2014

End Date: 00-05-2014

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

To know the status of fish farmers,
To understand existing fish farming in pond system and
To identify the constraints of fish production.

Methodology:

Selection of the Study Area: Selection of the study area is an important for the study of fish farmer and farming conditions. The purpose would therefore be better served in an area where there is a good concentration of fish culture. One upazila of Nilphamari district namely Syedpur was selected for the study area. Finally data were collected from 50 pond owners randomly covering the selected study area. Reasons for selecting the above areas are given below: i) Pond fish culture is heavily concentrated in this area; ii) BFRI, Freshwater Sub-station, Syedpur, Nilphamari and DoF has been working with fish farmers to increase production; iii) Relatively homogenous physiographic condition iv) Well communication facilities; v) Availability of fry and fingerlings; and vi) Finally, suitable for researcher work in this area. Target group: In the study area, a large number of farmers earned their livelihood in fish farming and its associated activities. It was reported that a few farmers were from solvent families, and almost all small farmers were poor. Most of these poor farmers lived in the rural areas in Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari district and engaged in fish farming in order to supplement their family income. Procedure of work: There were various methods of collecting data for the study of fish farmer and fish production. Selection of a particular method depended on many considerations such as nature of research, available literature and primary information, availability of funds and time etc. The data were collected for five months from January, 2014 to May, 2014 during the present study. Sample number and sampling procedure: It was not possible to include all the ponds under the study area because of limitations of time and resources. For the selection of samples a study of two things were taken into considerations. The first one was the sample size as large as to allow for adequate degrees of freedom in the statistical analysis; and the second one was the administration of field research processing and analyzing of data were manageable within the limits imposed by physical, human and financial resources. Considering all these aspects, fifty (50) farmers were selected from Syedpur upazila randomly. Fish pond with different types of culture system, management practices and different types of family status of pond farmer were included in the sample. Design and pre-test of questionnaire: For data collection, a set of interview schedule was designed for this study. The questionnaire was designed both close and open form of questions. However, some descriptive types of questions were also necessary to know the fact. That is why; both close and open questions were used in the questionnaire. The draft questionnaire was tested with 10 fish farmers in the study area. In the pilot survey, much attention was given to any new information, which was not designed to be asked, but was important and informative towards the objectives. The questionnaire was changed, modified, re-arranged according to the experience gathered in pre-setting of questionnaire. The final interview schedule was developed in logical sequence so that fish farmers could answer systematically. Data collection method: Fish farmer's data were collected using questionnaire interviews, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tool such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Crosscheck interview with key informants. Questionnaire interview: For questionnaire interviews, simple random sampling method was followed for 50 farmers in Syedpur upazila. The questionnaire interviews were conducted at the pond sites in the selected area. Before going to make an actual interview, a brief introduction about the objective of the study was given to each of the farmers and assured them that all information would be kept confidential. Each question was explained clearly and asked systematically for their sound understanding. At the time of interview, the physical conditions of the ponds and many areas of the fish cultivation methods like pond repair, application of food and fertilizers, harvesting, etc. were observed as a result there was a scope to understand well the fish production technology in the study area. Time required for each interview was about 40 minutes to an hour. Focus group discussion: PRA is a group of methods to collect information in a participatory fashion from rural communities. The advantage of PRA over other methods is that it allows wider community participation; therefore the information collected is likely to be more accurate. PRA is a group of methods to collect information from target group in a participatory way. For this research PRA tool such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with fish farmers. The FGD is a group meeting where farmers from the target communities discuss selected topics. In this research, FGD was used to get an overview of particular issues such as existing fish production systems, constraints of fish farming, farmer's socio-economic condition and their livelihood etc. Crosscheck interviews: After collecting through questionnaire interviews and FGD, it was necessary to check the information for justification of data. Crosscheck interviews were conducted with key informants such as Upazila Fisheries Officer; Assistant Fisheries Officer; Senior Scientific Officer (SSO), BFRI, Fisheries Sub- Station, Syedpur, Nilphamari and other relevant NGOs workers. Crosscheck interviews were done to verify the information from questionnaire interviews. The interviews of the respondents were conducted in their offices. Problems encountered during data collection: During the period of data collection, the researcher encountered the following problems: Most of the farmers in the study area had no idea about a research work and it was therefore, difficult to explain the purpose of this study to convince them. Most of the farmers hesitated to give answer to questions since they thought that the investigator might use the information against their interest. Researcher overcame these problems by given his own identity as a researcher to conduct a survey on integrated carp culture system. The respondents did not maintain any written records of their farming business. Therefore, the investigator had to depend on data supplied by respondents from their memory. Most of the farmers do not maintained the accurate income. The respondents used local units of measures in response to questions, which are difficult to be converted to standard units. In some occasions farmers were not available at home and such cases the investigator had to give extra effort and time to collect information from them. Data processing and analysis: The collected data were summarized and scrutinized carefully before the actual tabulation. Some of the data were collected into local units and these data were converted into international units. The processed data were transferred to a master sheet from which classified tables were prepared revealing the finding of the study.

Source of Information: MS Thesis, Roll No. 13 Fish Aqua JJ-05 M, Registration No.: 40853 Session: 2013-2014, Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the survey, it was found that a large number of farmers 46% started fish farming before (1-5) years, 36% before (6-10) years, 18% farmer before (11-15) years in the study area. It was also found that considerable number of farmers 46% gained their experience from relatives, 12% friends and neighbours, 12% education, 26% DoF and 4% NGO. It was found that the average pond size was 0.22 hac (55 dec) with a range from 0.04 ha (11 dec) to 1.215 ha (300 dec). In the, study area, the season of fish farming was from March - Decernber. Fries were stocked when they become available in March to May. The average stocking density of carp (including Tilapia) was found to be 15320 fingerling /hac in the study area. In the survey, 38% of farmer identified very low production (<2000) kg/ha/yr, 26% of farmer identified low production 2000-3000 kg/hac/yr, only 20% of farmer identified high production 4001-5000 Kg/hac/yr. The average annual income of fish farmers in the study area was 58306 Tk/ha/yr. The average dose of organic fertilizer in the study area was 2964 kg /ha/yr and inorganic fertilizer such as urea and TSP were 308 kg/hac/yr and 197 kg/ha/yr, respectively. However 42%, 48%, 32% and 34% of farmer identified as lack of co-operation from UFO, disease, high production cost and theft, respectively which were most important constraints of fish farming. Most of the farmers have improved socio-economic conditions through fish culture. The households have broadly improved their food consumption, standard of living, purchasing power, choice and economic ability through fish culture.

Knowledge Management: Thesis