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Economics of Thai Koi (climbing Perch, Anabas Testudineus) Farming in Pond in Bangladesh

Md. Al Amin Sarker
Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Fatimah Mohamed Arshad
Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Md. Ferdous Alam
American International University, Bangladesh, House No, 83/B, Road No, 4, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka, 1213, Bangladesh.

Zainal Abidin Mohamed
Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan
Deartment of Finance, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

With the high growth and productivity, Thai koi has opened up a new horizon of pond culture in Bangladesh. However, its growth varied widely year to year causing fluctuations in production. This study was undertaken to explore the farm insight practices in an economic viewpoint by framing a total of 149 farmers from Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. The study analyzed the farm profitability and other farming practices based on a per hectare basis for the three feed categories and determine the feed contribution to production. Among variables, feed alone experienced 73% of the gross production costs, implies a greater influence of feed on production. Though, the gross cost was higher, hence, the cost of producing per kg fish was the lowest for the floating feed. The farm income also varied with the variation of input costs among the feed brands and the performance of floating feed was found to be outstanding. Furthermore, floating feed yielded the best performances in terms of feed conversion ratio or daily mean weight gain of fish. Although, the initial investment is higher with the floating, feed farmers can earn much additional returns from the extra investment compared to other feed technologies. Generally, with an average revenue of fish was US$ 1.59 kg^-1 and cost of US$ 1.38 kg^-1, Thai koi production is considered to be a profitable agri-business. Finally, the outlook for the Thai koi farming could be very optimistic in filling the upcoming demand of fish, thus greatly improved human nutrition and food security by removing the problems and constraints were identified.

Keywords: Economics, Thai Koi, Farming, Pond

Location: Mymenshing district

Start Date: 00-02-2013

End Date: 00-07-2013

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Koi/Climbing

Objectives:

To explore the farm insight practices in an economic viewpoint by framing a total of 149 farmers from Mymensingh district in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Mymenshing district in the North-central Bangladesh was selected purposively for the study area due to the following reasons: Thai koi culture was introduced first in this region; secondly, many farmers in this region have adapted in Thai koi farming in their ponds as it yields higher returns and a number of fish hatcheries have been established in the area to meet the increasing demand for fish fries. All these result the expansion of Thai koi farms in the district. There are three upazilas (sub-district) under this district, namely; Muktagachha, Gauripur and Mymensingh sadar, selected as Thai koi farmers were concentrated in these areas. Around 35% of farm populations from each upazila totaling 150 Thai koi farms were selected to accomplish this study. The sample size for each upazila stands at; 71 for Muktagachha, 49 for Gauripur and 30 for Mymensingh sadar. Finally, the selection of farms was based on random sampling procedure. During compiling the data, one farm was found to be an outlier that ultimately dropped from the analysis. Hence, a total of 149 sample farms are retained and analyzed for the present study. Thai koi are harvested twice a year. This study considers first production cycle (February-July) in 2013 production period. The data set covers the period during August 2013. In modern fish culture, commercial feed alone covers 60-80% of total production cost. There are three different categories of industrial pellet feed used by the farmers; floating; sinking and mixed feed. Therefore, we analyzed the farm profitability and other farming practices based on a per hectare basis for the three feed categories and determine the feed contribution to Thai koi production. The intensity of inputs used varies across the three feed technologies and it varied production variability in the study area. The collected information were compiled, tabulated and analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the research. The tabular technique of analysis was used based on arithmetic means, percentages and ratios. Moreover, the data was generally used to find out the crude association or differences among the different feed brands. The costs and returns incurred in the farming process were calculated for one production cycle (six months). Finally, output and input variables used for this study were accounted for on a per hectare basis for the three different feed types. The equations used in estimating the production costs and returns of Thai koi production.

Source of Information: Trends in Agricultural Economics, 7: 26-40.

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.3923/tae.2014.26.40

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The overall findings suggest that productivity of Thai koi is quite high compared to the other fish species cultured in Bangladesh. Therefore, due to its high growth and productivity, Thai koi farming could be a solution to mitigate the growing demand for fish, hence, needs to promote all over Bangladesh. However, further development of this agri-business would need a reduction in major variable costs specially feed cost. The development of low-cost feeds would help to reduce production cost thus, increases farmer’s profit margins. For short-run, farmers are suggested to use floating feed due to its high productivity and better profit margin. It may be finally concluded that the outlook for the Thai koi culture could be very positive in meeting the future demand of fish thus, greatly improve human nutrition and food security by removing the problems and constraints were identified.

Knowledge Management: Journal