Balaram Mahalder
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
M Abu Baker Siddique
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
M Shafiullah
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
M Shadiqur Rahman
Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
M Anamul Haque
Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
M Rafiqur Rahman
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Freshwater, Farmers, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Ghers
Two villages of Dumuria upazila namely Ghona Mader Danga and Ramkrishnapur in Khulna district.
Socio-economic and Policy
Sustainable livelihood
2.1 Duration of the experiment The experiment was survey related and data were collected by the author himself through personal interviews and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) with the selected freshwater prawn farmers from October 2002 to May 2003.
2.2 Study Area The study area was selected in most important freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii) producing region, Khulna in the coastal Bangladesh. It was decided that the study would be conducted in two villages of Dumuria Upazila namely Ghona Mader Danga and Ramkrishnapur. These selected villages have relatively homogeneous phygeographic conditions among the farm units and freshwater prawn (M. rosenbergii) was cultivated abundantly in these areas. Apart from this, these areas are well communicated from Khulna district town, these prawn farming areas are important due to the favorable resources and climatic conditions such as the availability of pond and low lying agricultural land, warm climate, fertile soil, and cheap and abundant labor.
2.3 Selection of the Sample In a complete survey, the required information is collected from each and every element of the population. Thus it becomes costly and time-consuming. The normal practice, therefore, is to select a sample of representative freshwater prawn farmers which could represent a reasonably true picture of the prawn farmers and satisfy the objective set for the study. In this study, total 181 farmers were randomly selected, among them 96 and 85 farmers were selected from Ghona Mader Danga and Ramkrishnapur village respectively.
2.4 Preparation of Survey Schedule In a farm economic survey, preparation of survey schedule needs considerable care and expertise. In order to get a complete picture of the present prawn production and to fulfill the objectives of the study, a draft survey schedule was prepared and pretested with 10 farmers. The draft schedule was used for pre-testing a few sample farmers by the researcher. In this pre-testing, attention was paid to incorporate any new information, which was not designed to be asked and filled in the draft schedule. Thus the draft schedule was modified and improved in light of the actual experience gained from the field. Finally, a set of items were listed and grouped in logical sequence of information designed to include both quantitative and monetary values of prawn production so that the prawn farmers could answer easily. The question of the survey schedule were open-ended, there were some closed questions as well with a number of alternative replies. The schedule included questions on detailed information about the use of different inputs in connection with the production of prawn, i.e., returns from prawn cultivation, cost including prawn seed, feed, human labor, characteristics of gher (modified rice fields with high, broad peripheral dykes) and other related costs. All the questionnaires were constructed in English and then translated to Bengali during face-to-face interviews.
2.5 Data Collection For this study, data were collected using questionnaire interviews, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tool such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and cross check interview with key informants were used for prawn farmers.
International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2018; 6(5): 184-190
Journal