Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Socioeconomic Aspects of Rice-fish Farming in Bangladesh: Opportunities, Challenges and Production Efficiency

Nesar Ahmed
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Present address: Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Kerstin K. Zander
School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Stephen T. Garnett
School for Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In spite of the potential for rice-fish farming in Bangladesh, it has been adopted by relatively few farmers because of socioeconomic, environmental, technological and institutional constraints. Rice monoculture remains the main farming system in Bangladesh even though integrated rice-fish farming is the best farming system in terms of resource utilization, diversity, productivity, production efficiency and food supply. Only a small number of farmers involve in integrated rice-fish farming. This study concludes that rice-fish farming is as production efficient as rice monoculture and that integrated performs better in terms of cost and technical efficiency compared with alternate rice-fish farming. Integrated rice-fish farming can help Bangladesh keep pace with the current demand for food through rice and fish production. However, a lack of technical knowledge of farmers, high production costs and risks associated with flood and drought are inhibiting more widespread adoption of the practice.

Keywords: Cost efficiency; Data envelopment analysis; Farmer; Fish; Production frontier; Rice

Location: Mymensingh district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Rice, Fish

Objectives:

This study describes the rice-fish farming system and its opportunities and constraints to increase food supply in Bangladesh. It further assesses the production efficiency of rice-fish farming as a competitive alternative to rice monoculture.

Methodology:

Study area: The study was conducted in the Mymensingh district of north-central Bangladesh. Mymensingh has been identified as the greatest potential for rice-fish culture because of favourable resources and climatic conditions, including the availability of low-lying agricultural land, warm climate, fertile soil, and cheap and abundant labour. Hydrological conditions are also favourable for rice-fish farming as this area is located within the monsoon tropics with an average annual rainfall of 2500 mm (FAO 2000). Moreover, the number of fish fingerlings produced has risen rapidly in recent years through private hatcheries. Nevertheless, only a small number of farmers (around 100) involve in rice-fish farming in the Phulpur sub-district in Mymensingh district. These farmers received training in rice-fish farming from the Mymensingh Aquaculture Extension Project, funded by Danish International Development Assistance. Phulpur was therefore selected for the study. Data collection and sampling: Field research was conducted for a period of 9 months from September 2007 to May 2008. A combination of participatory, qualitative and quantitative methods was used for primary data collection. Data analysis and model specifics Data from questionnaire interviews were analysed using the statistical software Limdep 9.0. Qualitative information collected through field visits complimented the data analysis and was used to describe rice-fish farming systems.

Source of Information: Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 55, Issue 2, pages 199–219, April 2011

Article Link (Online Journal): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8489.2011.00535.x/full

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In order to meet the soaring demand for food, there is a need for increased rice and fish production in Bangladesh. It found high levels of technical and cost efficiencies in both groups, rice-fish and rice farmers. Integrated rice-fish farming is most technically and cost efficient, using the least inputs, in particular fertiliser. It concluded that rice-fish integration could be a viable option for diversification. Such farm diversification will enhance food security and can play an important role in the economy of Bangladesh as a sustainable alternative to rice monoculture. A number of significant constraints to rice-fish farming were revealed, particularly the lack of technical knowledge, high production costs, flood and drought. These will need to be overcome if the benefits of rice-fish farming are to reach the millions of rural poor. If rice farmers are persuaded to switch to integrated rice-fish farming, their income and local food supply will increase, and thus, the overall food security will be enhanced. In order to increase food supply, the government should promote integrated rice-fish farming throughout the country. It is also necessary to provide institutional and organisational support, training facilities and extension services for sustainable rice-fish farming. Training and technical support would help to increase the knowledge of farmers, improve profitability and reduce risks. The provision of low-interest credit would also help to switch to rice-fish farming by resource-poor farmers. Access to credit at reasonable interest rates and with appropriate repayment schedules will be essential if rice-fish farming is to become accessible to poorer farmers. Thus, the government as well as national banks and NGOs should provide adequate access to interest-free credit or credit at very low interest rates.

Knowledge Management: Journal