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Socioeconomic Characteristics and Constraints of Participatory Pond Fish Farmers in Mymensingh District, Bangladesh

MNAS Mithun
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

MS Kowsari
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

S Sheheli
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to determine the socio-economic characteristics and constraints of participatory pond fish farmers in Muktagachha upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Data were collected by using a structured interview schedule from 01 to 31 October 2018 from a sample of 100 fish farmers (50% of the total population) who were selected randomly from a population of 200. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, rank order and coefficient of correlation. The majority of the participatory pond fish farmers (90%) faced medium to low constraints. Among 22 constraints, lack of training on aquaculture was identified as the most critical one, followed by the high price of various inputs. The least important constraint of the farmers was a crisis of water in the dry season. It was revealed that fish farming experience, annual family income and training exposure were significantly associated with the constraints of participatory pond fish farmers. It is therefore recommended that the Department of Fisheries (DOF) and other related organizations can offer credit facilities, proper training and suitable extension services to minimize the constraints of participatory pond fish farmers and meet the increasing demand for fish in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Pond fish farmer, Characteristics, Constraints, Participatory,

Location: Kheruajani union of Muktagachha upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-00-2018

End Date: 00-00-2018

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Seasonality in production

Objectives:

To describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the fish farmers; to determine the constraints of participatory pond fish farmers, and to explore the relationships between socioeconomic characteristics and constraints of participatory pond fish farmers.

Methodology:

The study was carried out in Kheruajani union of Muktagachha upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The Upazila located between 24º75´ and 24º83´ North latitudes and between 90º26´ and 90º67´ East longitudes. A huge number of farmers are involved with fish farming and have received extension services from the Department of Fisheries (Sheheli et al., 2013). Good communication facilities and consequently less expense for conducting the study and researchers’ perception about better cooperation from the fish farmers motivated the researchers to select the study area. Method of data collection and analysis of data A total of 100 fish farmers (50% of the total population) were selected randomly from a population of 200 fish farmers which constituted the sample of this research. Data were collected by using a structured interview schedule through face-to-face interviews with the selected fish farmers from 01 to 31 October 2018. The extent of constraints of participatory pond fish farmers was the focus variable and eleven socioeconomic characteristics of the fish farmers were selected as explanatory variables namely age, level of education, household size, farm size, area under fish farming, fish farming experience, annual family income, training exposure, extension media contact, organizational participation and knowledge on fish farming. The study identified 22 major constraints of participatory pond fish farmers. The major constraints of participatory pond fish farmers were measured by using a 4-point rating scale (Islam et al., 2013). The respondents were asked to rate each problem as high, medium, low and not at all, with the corresponding score of 3, 2, 1 and 0, respectively. Thus, the constraint scores ranged from 0 to 66, where 0 indicates no constraint and 66 indicates severe constraint. Moreover, a constraint facing score (CFS) was employed to identify the critical constraints in participatory pond fish farming. Other researchers (Amin et al., 2016; Pandit and Basak, 2013) also used a similar formula to identify the critical constraints in their respective studies.

Source of Information: Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 170-176, December 2020

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v10i2.51591

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The participatory pond fish farmers in the study area experienced a number of constraints, of which, lack of training on aquaculture, the high price of various inputs and fear to start participatory farming were significant. The degree of constraints is further determined by the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers. Several factors such as fish farming experience, annual family income and training exposure of the fish farmers were found more influential to the constraints. This indicates an opportunity to work on those features to minimize the degree of constraints that lead to profitability in participatory pond fish farming. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the respective authority like the Department of Fisheries should provide better interventions, like training and extension services, to the farmers in regard to participatory pond fish farming that would improve the profitability of fish production. Moreover, different credit organizations (both GOs and NGOs) should provide easily accessible credits to increase participatory pond fish farming within the study area.

Knowledge Management: Journal