Ensuring sustainable expansion of aquaculture in Bangladesh
Aquaculture production (fish farming) in Bangladesh grew by nearly 200 percent between 2001 and 2015, to just over two million tonnes. The sustainability of further expansion will depend on ensuring high-quality seed and feed is produced, distributed and utilisedin an efficient, socially equitable, and environmentally appropriate manner. The project enabled seed quality to be enhanced by initiating a selective breeding programme to produce improved broodstock, and by developing better hatchery management practice guidelines. Feed quality was enhanced by establishing monitoring systems to ensure farmers accessed high-quality, unadulterated feed.
What did the project do
The project established a pilot-scale selective breeding programme in a small number of government and private hatcheries to ensure genetic integrity, with one nucleus hatchery holding the main gene pools of pre-identified and traceable species and two satellites set up for safe-keeping of traceable broodstock. A technical review was undertaken of laws and protocols concerning aquaculture, and amendments and revisions proposed. Better hatchery management practices (BHMP) guidelines/manuals were developed and promoted. A National AquafeedControl Programme was set up to monitor feed quality. A proposal for a credit facility for small-scale farmers, hatchery operators, and feed producers was developed.Impact
The main impact of the project was to increase the capacity of feed and seed producers to produce more efficient and better quality inputs in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This will sustain the aquaculture industry on which millions of workers depend for their livelihood and direct and indirect employment. The growth of fish farming will assure food security to a large population.Activities
- A survey was conducted of 25 public and 104 private hatcheries, determining that good genetic principles and management were not properly followed or maintained.
- Eleven government farm managers were trained to undertake a mass selection breeding programme for rohu(a species of carp).
- 99 hatchery technicians from the public and private sectors in three different regions were trained in BHMP.
- 70 feed manufacturers and 51 advanced farmers from six states were trained in improving the quality of aquafeed.
- 157 feed importers and manufacturers, commercial feed and ingredient dealers, grow out and hatchery farmers across the country’s seven major production regions were surveyed for their use of feed additives.
Project symbol: TCP/BGD/3501
Project title: Enhancing aquaculture production for food security and rural development through better seed and feed production and management with special focus on public-private partnership
Contact: FAO Office in Bangladesh
Email: [email protected]
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/a-bt814e.pdf