International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2017; 5(4): 112-117 E-ISSN: 2347-5129 P-ISSN: 2394-0506 (ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62 Impact of technology on fish production in north east (GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549 IJFAS 2017; 5(4): 112-117 region of Bangladesh © 2017 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 13-05-2017 Basir Ahammad, Mohammed Khandaker, Aishi Hamom, Md. Sourove Accepted: 14-06-2017 Islam, Shudipta Ahmed Shobho, Shahrear Hemal and Debarshi Basir Ahammad Bhattacharjee Department of Fish Health Management, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet- Abstract 3100, Bangladesh. A quest was conducted to assess the existing technologies used by the fish farmers and its impact on the fish production in north east region of Bangladesh (Sylhet district) from July, 2015 to June 2016. Three Mohammed Khandaker upazilas were selected as experimental sites viz. Sylhet sadar, South surma and Golapganj under Sylhet Department of Architecture and district. There were highly significant differences (P≤0.05) in the uses of cow-dung, urea, triple Landscape University of superphosphate (TSP), lime, rice barn and mustard oil cake between semi-intensive to extensive culture Greenwich, London, UK. technology in the farmer level. Cost item parameters such as fingerlings, feed, fertilizers, human laborers, harvesting and marketing and miscellaneous also revealed highly significant difference (P≤0.05) between Aishi Hamom semi-intensive and extensive culture technology except for land use cost (P≥0.05) and production output Department of Fish Health also expressed similar result. The mean values of the parameter net profit for extensive and semi- Management Sylhet Agricultural intensive culture were 78330.00±19223.85 tk/ha/yr and 419470.00±368024.69 tk/ha/yr respectively. In University, Sylhet-3100, epilogue, semi-intensive technology had a highly positive impact on fish production as well as it was Bangladesh. more profitable for aquaculture in north east region of Bangladesh (Sylhet district). Md. Sourove Islam Department of Fish Health Keywords: aquaculture, technology, semi-intensive, extensive and cost item Management Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, 1. Introduction Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an agro-based country and is striving hard for rapid development of its economy [6]. It is often argued that the future development of the country depends particularly on the Shudipta Ahmed Shobho Department of Aquaculture agricultural sectors and plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of rural area, Sylhet Agricultural University, fulfilling the animal protein demand, creating employment opportunity, alleviating poverty Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh. and earning foreign exchange for the country [20]. About 18.2 million people directly or indirectly earn their livelihood by fisheries related activities [8]. Fish and fisheries are Shahrear Hemal indispensable part in the life and livelihoods of the people of Bangladesh [5]. Freshwater fish Department of Aquaculture [18, 19] Sylhet Agricultural University, farming plays primal role in the livelihoods of rural people in Bangladesh . It creates [3, 16] Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh. diverse livelihood opportunities for the people who are living below the poverty level . Pond fish farming is more profitable business than rice cultivation so that many farmers in Debarshi Bhattacharjee rural areas are converting their rice field into aquaculture pond [12]. In rural areas pond fish Department of Fisheries farmers have taken fish farming activities as a secondary occupation and most of the farmers Technology and Quality Control [16] Sylhet Agricultural University, improved their socioeconomic condition through pond fish farming activities . Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh. Most of the freshwater pond fish farming in Bangladesh is dominated by either extensive or semi-intensive and in very few cases intensive [22]. In semi intensive culture system fertilizer (mainly cow dung, Urea and TSP) is used irregularly and supplementary feed such as rice-bran and oil cakes are given on the contrary, fishes are grown on natural feeds and fertilizer in [22] extensive method . Most of the farmers carried out monoculture of fishes and cultured mainly Tilapia and Pangus. The development of aquaculture can only be enhanced by the introducing modern technologies. While there have been instances of successful introduction of technologies to boost up production in Bangladesh [28]. The major problem has been the lack of appropriate technology [9, 10, and 29]. Aquaculture technologies have been developed and Correspondence Debarshi Bhattacharjee disseminated to farmers while some scholars have stated that what is needed is to develop the [10, 13] Department of Fisheries technologies and make them available , others insist that the transfer of technology would Technology and Quality Control be more effective when there is a greater interaction among the developers, transfer agencies Sylhet Agricultural University, and the farmers [10]. Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh. ~ 112 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies However, the crucial point for the farmers is to be able to local level in Sylhet district. afford any technology extended to them [10]. But, the inability of farmers to afford the technologies extended to them that 2. Materials and Method made farmers abandons the ponds [10]. Rogers [23] has added 2.1 Study area, Target group and Period of the study another dimension by stating that the adoption of technology The research was accomplished in Sylhet district covering can be affected by the way it is named and positioned. three Upazilas namely Sylhet sadar, South Surma and There are different types of water bodies are available in Golapgonj (Fig. 1) considering farming areas, livelihoods study area so fishermen are used different type of culture dependency on farming, communication and activities of GOs techniques to achieve more production. Therefore, the aim of and NOGs on fish farming. Majorities of targeted fish farmers the quest was undertaken to explore the types of technologies were small and marginal farmers, who are generally poor but are used for fish production, the changing trend of livelihood had some rich farmers from solvent families. The data were of fish farmers, the opportunities and constrains of fish collected from July 2015 to June2016. farming and the effects of technology on fish production at Fig 1: Map showing the study area in Sylhet district 2.2 Sample number and sampling procedure farming in 1989 or before, 31% farmers started between 1990 For questionnaire interview, simple random sampling method and 1994, 34% between 1995 to 1999 and 18% after 1999. was followed for fish farmers. Among 200 sample farmers, 65 Islam [11] found that a large number of farmers (60%) started were selected from Sylhet sadar Upazila and the other 65 fish farming within 1991 to 2000, 20% were within 2001 to from South Surma and rest samples from Golapgonj Upazila 2010, 15% within 1981 to 1990 and rest within 1970 to 1980 of Sylhet district. A total of 20 Focus Group Discussion in the study area in Dumki upazila under Patuakhali district. (FGD) sessions was conducted where each group size of FGD Most of the interviewed farmers reported that the primary was 5 to 7 farmers. For collecting data both individual and reason of fish farming was to get high income from the sale of group interviews were also applied with different degree of production. The farmer’s accentuated that fish farming is effectiveness of the farmer’s information. more profitable than agrarian farming. 2.3 Data collection, Data processing and analysis 3.2 General features of fish ponds The data were collected using pre-prepared face to face 3.2.1 Pond ownership and size questionnaire interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) In the study area 77% of the farmers have single ownership with fish farmers and crosschecked those data by various pond and 23% have ponds of multiple ownership. The resource person and institution of that area. The collected data average pond size in the study area was found to be 0.10ha. were scrutinized and summarized carefully before the actual That’s why the farmers can easily manage their pond during tabulation. Some of the data were collected into local units culture as well as harvesting. These results were matched with and later converted into international units. After data entry, the findings of Rana [22] who observed that average pond size the data were analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Package for was 0.14 ha with 81% single and 19% multiple-ownership of Social Science) version 11.5 and independent t-test was used the ponds in Golapgonj upazila under Sylhet district. Sarker to compare the mean value of the extensive and semi- and Ali [24] found that average pond size was 0.13 ha in intensive technologies. Sreemangal upazila under Moulvibazar district. Ali [5] 3. Results and Discussion also found that average pond size was 0.13 ha with single 3.1 Background of fish farming ownership (64%) and multiple ownerships (36%) in Bagmara Among the 200 respondents 17% fish farmers started fish upazilla under Rajshahi district. ~ 113 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 3.2.2 Pond type 3.3.3 Pre-stocking management The study revealed that ponds were of two categories: Pre-stocking management of ponds in the study area seasonal and perennial. The seasonal and perennial ponds comprises dike repairing, aquatic weed and undesirable were 60% and 40% respectively. Rana [22] observed that 45% species (predator and trash fish) control. About 96% of the of the ponds were seasonal and 55% ponds were perennial in farmers control aquatic weeds manually. For controlling Golapgonj upazila under Sylhet district. Ali [5] claimed that undesirable species most of them (92%) used netting method. 46% of the ponds were seasonal and 54% ponds were Some farmers used rotenone and phostoxin (2-5%) but did not perennial in Bagmara upazilla under Rajshahi district. The follow any recommended dose. 15-20% farmers did not use water levels of perennial ponds drop during dry season and any chemicals or other methods.