Present Status of Pond Fish Farming: Evaluation from Small Scale Fish Farmer Under Saidpur Upazila, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
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Journal of Experimental Agriculture International 17(5): 1-7, 2017; Article no.JEAI.35682 Previously known as American Journal of Experimental Agriculture ISSN: 2231-0606 Present Status of Pond Fish Farming: Evaluation from Small Scale Fish Farmer under Saidpur Upazila, Nilphamari, Bangladesh Saokat Ahamed1*, Khandaker Rashidul Hasan1, Yahia Mahmud2 and Md. Khaliur Rahman2 1Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Freshwater Sub-station, Saidpur, Nilphamari, Bangladesh. 2Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Headquarter Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author SA designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors KRH and YM managed the analyses of the study. Author MKR managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/JEAI/2017/35682 Editor(s): (1) Ana Margarida Violante Pombo, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, ESTM, Peniche, Portugal. Reviewers: (1) U. D. Enyidi, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria. (2) Mbadu Zebe Victorine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Congo. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/21187 Received 25th July 2017 Accepted 19th September 2017 Original Research Article Published 1st October 2017 ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to know the status of pond fish farming in Saidpur upazila under Nilphamari district of Bangladesh. The survey research was conducted on 40 fish farmers during October 2016 to March 2017). Farmers were randomly selected from selected areas. Primary data were collected through a survey questioner; secondary data were collected from relevant literature. Average size of ponds was 8-30 decimals and containing 3-6 month water holding capacity with 65% seasonal pond. Average stocking density was found 1500-2000 fry/ha. Most of the farmer applied locally feed. About 30 % people did not found fish diseases, 55 % people mentioned that diseases occurred occasionally and 15% found outbreaks of diseases in every year. Production rate of the 40% respondents were very low only 20% were high, main problem is water scarcity and inadequate technical knowledge therefore more extension and research are needed to increasing production. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Ahamed et al.; JEAI, 17(5): 1-7, 2017; Article no.JEAI.35682 Keywords: Evaluation; present status; fish farming; Saidpur; Nilphamari; Bangladesh. 1. INTRODUCTION of fishermen in the Saidpur is 376 and yearly production is very low 459 mt. although the total Fisheries sector play an important role in develop area of pond is 668 acre which contains of 2570 the socioeconomic condition of an agricultural numbers of ponds [6]. The pond area remains based country, like Bangladesh. Contribution in under water almost throughout the year. fisheries sector of Bangladesh is now well Normally, households use pond water for various recognized in the world [1]. It has been domestic and sometimes agriculture purposes. increasing the demand of fisheries sector in Ponds are also generally used for fish culture. In national economy day by day. This sector view of the above consideration; the present contributes about 3.69% of total GDP and around investigation was carried out to evaluate the 22.60% in case of agricultural GDP in 2013-2014 status of the current fish farming in Saidpur [1]. 11%, people are now involved in this sector. Upazila under the district of Nilphamari and to About 17.8 million people are partially engaged find out the socio-economic constraints in fisheries sector for their livelihoods [1]. Total connected with fish farming. pond area in Bangladesh estimated as 3.71 lakh hector (ha), which can contribute 4.1 mt. of fish 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS production. Freshwater fish farming plays an important role in the livelihoods of rural people in The present study was carried out in Nilphamari Bangladesh [2]. Aquaculture production, district, under Saidpur upazila for the particularly pond aquaculture may be are liable assessment of current fish farming system, the source of attaining increased fish production so study were conducted during November 2016 to as to provide and feed the continually rising March 2017. Fourty (40) farmers were randomly population of the planet [3]. Apart from direct selected from selected areas. The target group self-employment opportunities from fish farming, was selected in different criteria especially who pond fish farming offers diverse livelihood are already engaged in pond fish culture in opportunities for operators and employees of seasonal or permanent. Saidpur upazila were hatcheries and seed nurseries and for seed selected due to a transitional point of several traders and other intermediaries. Pond fish districts of Northern region. Pond fish farming in farming has been proved to be a profitable this area is not satisfactory for environmental business than rice cultivation. So many farmers extremities and there is a deficiency in fish in rural areas are converting their rice field into production so a huge potentiality to introduce aquaculture pond many pond fish farmers in rural short cycle fish species in these areas. Research areas have taken fish farming activities as their organization, DoF and several NGOs are trying secondary occupation and most of the people overcoming this problem. Good communication involved in fish farming improved their socio- facilities also help to researcher work in this area economic condition through pond fish farming to increase fish production so there is need a activities [4]. Irregularly and supplemental feed baseline study for proper management and consisting of rice-bran and oilcakes are given. In planning. The study was based on collection of extensive method fishes are grown on natural primary and secondary data. Before collecting feeds and feeds and fertilizer are rarely used if the primary data a well structure questioners used then also in small quantity and or irregular were developed. In the pre testing much basis [5]. The stocked fish are not specifically attention were given to any useful information for selected, predator are not eliminated and are not the completeness of the objective. After fertilized or managed through-out the production improving the final questionnaire, primary data cycle. In general fish culture in Bangladesh is were collected through survey of farmer characterized by the use of both extensive and household in selected areas by applying semi-intensive systems. Syedpur is an important participatory Rural Appraisal tools such as upazila in the district of Nilphamari, northwest of directly interview of the farmer, focus group Bangladesh. Its total area is 121.68 km2. There is discussion, crosscheck etc. Relevant secondary 2574 pond in which 16 ponds are public and data were collected from district and Upazila 2558 ponds are private (Personal fisheries office. The literatures were also communication, Upazila Fisheries Officer, collected from different study (The resources Syedpur, Nilphamari) [5]. Tiesta Barrage Project, include online publications, books, governmental one of the biggest irrigation projects of the reports, international reports, scientific journals country, begins from Dalia of this district. Number and news articles that focused on pond farming 2 Ahamed et al.; JEAI, 17(5): 1-7, 2017; Article no.JEAI.35682 system and livelihood condition of a fish farmer). 3.1.3 Religious All the information of the study then compiled, accumulated and analyzed by MS excel and Religion plays a vital role in the social and presented in tabular and graphical forms to cultural environment of people in a given area. It understand the present pond farming system. acts as a notable constraint and modifies social pattern of people. In the study area, 91.66% of 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the pond owners were Muslim and 8.33% were Hindus. [10]. was found that maximum fish 3.1 Personal Information farmers were muslim (94%) while small proportions (6%) were hindus in some selected 3.1.1 Age group areas of Bagmara upazilla under Rajshahi Among the total 40 fish farmers, the highest 35% district. This result is similar to the present study. belonged to the age group 31-40 years. The lowest 7.5% belonged to the age group above 60 Table 3. Religious status of fish farmers in years (Table 1). In the study area it has been the study area found that the majority of the fish farmers were 30-50 years old. [7]. found that most fish farmers Religion No. of farmer ( N=) % of total (50%) belong to the age group of 31-40 years in Muslim 33 91.66 the district of Mymensingh. Similar results also Hindhu 03 8.33 observed [8]. Have investigated majority of the Others 00 - fish farmers in Dinajpur were 31-45 years old, Total ( N=) 40 1005 which is more or less similar to the present findings. 3.1.4 Principal occupation Table 1. Age distribution of the fish farmers in In the study area majority of the fish farmers the study area were involved in agricultural farming as a principal occupation (62.5%), followed by Age group No. of farmer % of total business including small trading and shop ( N=) keeping (17.5%). About 12.5% of the farmers 20-30 07 17.5 were occupied with fish farming as their principle 31-40 14 35 occupation while 7.5% labors (both unskilled and 41-50 12 30 skilled labor). (Table 4) [2]. found that 17%, 52%, 51-60 04 10 3% and 28% farmers were related to agriculture 61-70 03 7.5 fish culture, business and others as secondary Total ( N=) 40 100% occupation in Habigonj district. 3.1.2 Family size Table 4. Principal occupation of fish farmers In this study, only 10% had family members 7-8 Occupation No. of farmer % of (Table 2). The family size is much smaller ( N=) total compared to other areas and communities of Agriculture 25 62.5% Bangladesh.