Development of value chain for sustainable Quality Tilapia seed production in cages and its distribution in the haor region of Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted from April-July, 2013 to evaluate the development of value chain for sustainable quality tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) seed production using hapa and cages and its distribution in the haor region of Bangladesh to address following objectives: Promotion of market for high quality tilapia seed production in cages, promotion of input market for sustainable cage aquaculture and capacity building of women in cage making techniques, fish seed production and marketing activities. A community based organization (CBO) comprised of 222 members was involved for hapa nursing of tilapia in three densities with three replicates in each and 35 women from five villages surrounding the Soma Nadi Jalmohal of Sunamganj district were selected for cage nursing of tilapia in five densities with seven replicates in each. The major inputs including net, bamboo, rope, plastic bottle, fish fry and fish feed were made available for hapa and cage nursing through the connection among suppliers, fry traders, nursers, growout farmers in the study area. To achieve the objectives, quality tilapia fry of 0.0173 gm size were collected from Bismillah Hatchery at Noakhali for hapa nursing and stocking at the density of 750, 900 and 1050 per m 2 and 1.41 ± 0.16 . After 51 days of nursing net yield (kg m -2 ) were 1.98 ± 0.07 a a , 2.00 ± 0.02 b from density-I, density-II and density-III, respectively. Total cost calculated for hapa nursing in Density-I, Density-II and Density-III was 496, 579 and 660, respectively. At the end of hapa nursing, the gross and net benefit obtained were Tk. 1078.08 and Tk. 582.45 in Density-I, Tk. 1371.92 and Tk. 793.12 in Density-II, Tk. 1315.41 and Tk. 655.04 in Density-III, respectively. The BCR obtained in Density-I, Density-II and Density-III was 2.17:1, 2.36:1 and 1.99:1, respectively. Significantly higher benefit was observed in case of Density-II. After completion of the first cycle of hapa nursing of tilapia farmers were linked-up with a local tilapia hatchery of Sylhet. Cage materials were purchased from Sylhet district town. In case of cage nursing, quality tilapia fry of 2.94 gm size trasfered from hapa to cage tranported by boat with plastic drum and released at the density of 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and 1200 fry per m . For each density there were seven replicates. After 52 days of nursing net yield (kg m 3 ) observed 33.83 ± 1.29 -3 a from density-I, density-II, density-III, density-IV and density-V respectively. Produced advanced fingerling sold to fry traders and growout farmers at the rate of Tk. 4-5/fry and kept some fry in cages for growout and thus developed seed supply chain among actors network and distributors throughout the Sunamganj district. Total cost calculated in different densities of cage nursing for D-I, D-II, D-III, D-IV and D-V was 3078, 3299, 3607, 3908 and 4216 respectively. At the end of cage rearing, the gross and net benefits obtained were Tk. 4706 and Tk. 1628, respectively in D-I, Tk. 5301and Tk. 2002, respectively in D-II, Tk. 5871 and Tk. 2263, respectively in D-III, Tk. 6540 and Tk. 2632, respectively in D-IV and Tk. 7071 and Tk. 2855, respectively in D-V. The BCR obtained in D-I, D-II, D-III, D-IV and D-V was 1.52:1, 1.61:1, 1.63:1, 1.67:1 and 1.68:1, respectively. Significantly higher benefit was observed in Density-V followed by Density-IV. At the end of the study, people came to know where the hapa and cage materials are available and a linkage was developed with them. The women received training on hapa and cage making techniques and gained knowledge about hapa and cage nursing technology of tilapia. Development of input market including seed production increased, 35 nurserers, 2 patil wallahs, 1 hapa and cage net shop, 3 other materials suppliers, sale increased of fish feed trader and socio-economic development of beneficiary group at the rate of average annual income increased 12.415% in study area are noticed. There are some problems observed during developing value chain for sustainable tilapia seed production and distribution in haor areas which includes lack of money, high production costs, lack of quality fry, lack of technical knowledge and marketing problems of fish fry etc. As tilapia nursing is a very good income generating activities it is necessary to provide adequate bank credit, training facilities, need to develop input and product market facilities for the sustainable development of tilapia farming in the haor region of Bangaldesh. b , 38.48 ± 2.73 c , 43.23 ± 2.72 c , 44.37 ± 4.34 and 49.43 ± 4.80 d