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Pond Fish Production Through People's Participation in Rural Bangladesh

Masudul Hoq Chowdhury
Graduate Student
Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, 1-5-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8529, Japan

Keshav Lall Maharjan
Associate Professor
Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, 1-5-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8529, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Aquaculture is currently responsible for a significant proportion of total fish production in Bangladesh. Fish is the main animal sources of protein for the rural people of Bangladesh. However, given the increasing demand for fish, the per capita production of fish is declining. The present study highlights the development of freshwater pond fish culture through grassroots-level organizations in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The result of the study reveals that, management and cultural factors affect fish farming in ponds. The study also indicated that, higher production could be achieved by increasing the use of fertilizer and artificial feeding along with the improvement of other management practices. The grassroots level village organization had played a significant role in the process of technology transfer from the Thana level to the village level.

Keywords: Pond fish culture, CVDP, Non-CVDP, Grassroots level organization, Dissemination mechanism, Promoting pond fish culture, Policy implication, Improved pond fish culture

Location: Comilla district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

The specific objectives of the study were: 1. To make a comparative analysis on production practices of pond fish culture between CVDP and Non-CVDP area and their performances. 2. To know the role of grassroots level organizations and their knowledge dissemination mechanism for promoting pond fish culture in rural area. 3. To make suggestions for policy implications for improved pond fish culture in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The field study was conducted in eight villages of Comilla district in the Southern Part of Bangladesh. Out of these eight villages, four villages were selected from a rural development project conducted by Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), under the CVDP. The other four villages were out of the project area but within the same geographical area. The project villages were selected purposively, i.e, the village having a good number of ponds were included in the sample. This was done through discussion with the project personnel of the CVDP. In case of the Non-CVDP area, random sampling methods were used. Before conducting the survey, the present population of pond owners and pond fish culturists were assessed with the help of census data. Rest of the information for the study was collected from the primary sources consisted by the pond owners and the pond fish culturists. All ponds were considered as sample ponds and one respondent was selected from among the owners of each pond of the CVDP area in the village. On the other hand, only 50 percent of the total ponds were considered as sample ponds in the Non-CVDP area. Main survey was conducted during 1997-1998. The main objective of the field study was to make the analysis of the activities of a rural pond fishery development program with respect to knowledge dissemination, production performances, production practices and so on. The specific objectives of the study were: 1. To make a comparative analysis on production practices of pond fish culture between CVDP and Non-CVDP area and their performances. 2. To know the role of grassroots level organizations and their knowledge dissemination mechanism for promoting pond fish culture in the rural areas. 3. To make suggestions for policy implication for improved pond fish culture in Bangladesh.

Source of Information: Journal of International Development and Cooperation, Vol.7, No.2, 2001, pp. 11–28

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In regards to the intensity of fish culture, the higher number of ponds (57%) in CVDP area were under the semi-intensive fish culture method, giving them higher production. On the other hand majority of the fishponds in the Non-CVDP area were under extensive culture. This meant that a higher number of farmers in the CVDP area practiced scientific pond fish culture technology than in the Non-CVDP area. The results of the study also indicated that higher profit could be obtained by increasing the use of fertilizer and artificial feedings along with other management practices. Consequently, farmers in the CVDP area were getting more yield and better returns than those in the Non-CVDP area. In consideration with the village organization activities, the majority of the farmers reported that they were satisfied with village organization activities like, technology transfer, credit, motivation and participatory planning for pond fish production. The study also identified several major problems and constraints in fishpond culture. In this respect, social and technical problems were found to be the most important constraint in Non-CVDP area. Fish disease, lack of experience and non-availability of quality fish seed were also mentioned by a few number of farmers in both areas. Based on the above discussion it may be concluded that people's participation in pond fishery development through CVDP approach offers the following advantages to the government, development agencies as well as rural inhabitants.

Knowledge Management: Journal