| dc.description.abstract | A study was carried out in Sylhet district from July 2013 to December 2013 where 60 farmers were
interviewed on their farm site to identify the existing fish farming systems and livelihood status. The
farmers were interviewed with a questionnaire and the data were analyzed using a statistical method
following SPSS. Three type of farming viz. extensive, semi-intensive, integrated were observed and the
average pond size was 0.10±0.05 ha, 0.24±0.21 ha and 0.17±.16 ha respectively. Carp polyculture and
tilapia monoculture was dominated and the density of carp polyculture and tilapia monoculture was
4680.65±1189.91, 9022.76±1695.86, 7564.38±1805.80 no./ha/year and 38461.43±5855.02,
58971.25±5513.22, 57221.67±4532.07 no./ha/year in extensive, semi-intensive and integrated farming
respectively. Extensive farming depends mainly on natural feed and irregular supply of different artificial
feed. Semi-intensive and integrated farmers used commercial feed and the amount of feed for carp and
tilapia were 3482.70±374.19 2733.47±643.19 and 12600.08±1540.18, 10133.18±1844.74 kg/ha/year in
semi-intensive and integrated farming respectively. Fertilization of ponds were done by farmers in all
system. The yield varied from different farming systems having highest in semi-intensive carp polyculture
and tilapia monoculture and the production were 2406.59±399.17 and 11564.54±1856.56 kg/ha/year
respectively. The feed cost occupied the highest position which was 351150 and 664000 BDT/ha/year in
semi-intensive farming of carp and tilapia while the cost in integrated farming was 163800 and 405320
BDT/ha/year for carp and tilapia respectively. Different gross revenue were observed in different farming
system as 181800 and 240000 BDT/ha/year in extensive, 744000 and 1156000 BDT/ha/year in semiintensive,
and 678000 and 866000 BDT/ha/year in integrated farming of carps and tilapia respectively.
The benefit cost ratio was higher in semi-intensive (2.12) and integrated farming (2.14) of carp
polyculture compared to tilapia monoculture in semi-intensive (1.74) and integrated farming (1.50). Five
livelihood assets were considered to understand the livelihood condition. In all farming systems middle
aged farmers were found highest percentage 58.3%. About 45% consisting above 6 family members and
30%, 25% consisting 2-3, 4-5 members respectively. The highest illiterate farmers (40%) were extensive
farmers and lowest in semi-intensive and integrated farming at 15% each. About 36.67% of the
respondents had tinshed house, 18.33% had kacha, 31.67% had half-building and only 13.33% had
Building. On average 13.33% farmers were used pucka toilets while 20% semi-intensive farmers and 15%
integrated farmers used pucka toilet treated as good sanitation. Use of tube well water of extensive
farmers observed lowest 65%, while the semi-intensive and integrated farmers observed 90% each. The
percentage of extensive, semi-intensive, integrated farmers got treatment from upazila health complex
was 45%, 55%, 50% respectively. Main constraints were inadequate supply of quality fingerlings
(26.67%), high production cost (21.67%) and the lower quality (18.33%) of feed. The livelihood
outcomes found positive and 76.67 farmers viewed that they have improved their socio-economic
conditions. Necessary training on scientific fish culture, establishment of hatchery by GOs and NGOs to
ensure quality fingerlings and massive extension work can mitigate the problem related to fish culture in
the study area. | en_US |
