Optimizing Pond Fertilization Regimes and Promoting Collaboration between Academic

Institutions and NGOs in Bangladesh

ACRSP – UM/AIT Team

Background – Aquaculture in BangladeshBackground – Aquaculture in Bangladesh

Aquaculture contributes about 46% of the Aquaculture contributes about 46% of the total fish production of 2.2 million tons in total fish production of 2.2 million tons in Bangladesh. Bangladesh.

Aquaculture is vital to Bangladesh in terms Aquaculture is vital to Bangladesh in terms of nutrition, income, employment generation of nutrition, income, employment generation and foreign exchange earning. and foreign exchange earning.

Major Aquaculture practice - polyculture of Major Aquaculture practice - polyculture of 4-7 species of Indian major and Chinese 4-7 species of Indian major and Chinese carps in manured and/or fertilized ponds, carps in manured and/or fertilized ponds, giving an average production of only 2.8 giving an average production of only 2.8 tons/ha.tons/ha.

Background – NGOs in aquaculture and Background – NGOs in aquaculture and problemsproblems

Many NGO’s such as BRAC, PROSHIKA, CARITAS and Many NGO’s such as BRAC, PROSHIKA, CARITAS and CARE have been engaging in promoting aquaculture CARE have been engaging in promoting aquaculture development along with the government. development along with the government.

ProblemsProblems– Different NGO’s as well as government organizations often Different NGO’s as well as government organizations often

recommended different fertilization regimes to the rural farmers, recommended different fertilization regimes to the rural farmers, and these do not seem to increase yields rather create confusion and these do not seem to increase yields rather create confusion among the users;among the users;

– Both over- and under-fertilization cause adverse effects on water Both over- and under-fertilization cause adverse effects on water quality, fish production, pond effluents and economic returns;quality, fish production, pond effluents and economic returns;

– Lack of collaboration between academic institutions and NGOs;Lack of collaboration between academic institutions and NGOs;– It was therefore necessary to evaluate the performance of It was therefore necessary to evaluate the performance of

different fertilization regimes, and recommend appropriate different fertilization regimes, and recommend appropriate fertilization strategies to the fish farmers in Bangladesh. fertilization strategies to the fish farmers in Bangladesh.

ACRSP Work: On-Station TrialACRSP Work: On-Station Trial

The on-station trial were The on-station trial were carried at BAU out to carried at BAU out to address the following address the following objectives:objectives:

– To evaluate the different To evaluate the different fertilization regimes currently fertilization regimes currently used in aquaculture;used in aquaculture;

– To compare their effects on To compare their effects on water quality, fish production, water quality, fish production, pond effluents and economic pond effluents and economic returns; andreturns; and

– To recommend best To recommend best fertilization regimes to small-fertilization regimes to small-scale rural fish farmers.scale rural fish farmers.

ACRSP Work: On-Station TrialACRSP Work: On-Station Trial

Table 1: Five different fertilization regimes

Treatments Stage Inputs (kg/100 m2) PROSHIKA BRAC CARITAS BAU CRSP Lime 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

Cowdung 25

(wet wt.)

20 (wet wt.)

25 (wet wt.)

12.5 (wet wt.)

2.5 (dry wt.)

Urea - 0.375 0.750 0.313 0.523*

TSP - 0.188 0.375 0.156 0.302*

Pond preparation

MP - 0.093 0.125 - -

Cowdung 10 (wet wt.) Weekly

1.56 (wet wt.) Weekly

15 (wet wt.) Fortnightly

12.5 (wet wt.) Fortnightly

2.5 (dry wt.) Weekly

Urea

- 0.281 Weekly

- 0.313 Fortnightly

0.546 *

Post-stocking

TSP

- 0.131 Weekly

- 0.156 Fortnightly

0.293*

* Urea and TSP were determined based on the nutrient content in cowdung

ACRSP Work: On-Station TrialACRSP Work: On-Station Trial

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Pro

du

cti

on

(k

g/1

00

m2)

PROSHIKA BRAC CARITAS BAU CRSP

Treatments

S.carp Rohu Catla

Mrigal G. carp C. carp

PROSHIKABRAC

CARITASBAU

CRSP

BCR

1.04

1.50

1.02

1.57

1.24

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

Figure 1: Production Figure 2: Benefit-cost ratio

ACRSP Work: On-Farm TrialACRSP Work: On-Farm Trial

On-Farm trails were conducted by On-Farm trails were conducted by respective NGOs on farmers’ ponds.respective NGOs on farmers’ ponds.

The objectives of the on-farm trials were: The objectives of the on-farm trials were: – To compare BAU fertilization regime with the To compare BAU fertilization regime with the

regimes used by three NGOs namely, regimes used by three NGOs namely, PROSIKA, BRAC and CARITAS; andPROSIKA, BRAC and CARITAS; and

– To compare the effects of BAU and NGOs To compare the effects of BAU and NGOs fertilization schedules on water quality, fish fertilization schedules on water quality, fish production and economic returnsproduction and economic returns

ACRSP Work: On-Farm TrialACRSP Work: On-Farm Trial

On-Farm trails were conducted by On-Farm trails were conducted by respective NGOs on farmers’ ponds.respective NGOs on farmers’ ponds.

The objectives of the on-farm trials were: The objectives of the on-farm trials were: – To compare BAU fertilization regime with the To compare BAU fertilization regime with the

regimes used by three NGOs namely, regimes used by three NGOs namely, PROSIKA, BRAC and CARITAS; andPROSIKA, BRAC and CARITAS; and

– To compare the effects of BAU and NGOs To compare the effects of BAU and NGOs fertilization schedules on water quality, fish fertilization schedules on water quality, fish production and economic returnsproduction and economic returns

ACRSP Work: On-Farm TrialACRSP Work: On-Farm Trial

Density and combinations of fish species stocked in farmers’ ponds at different NGOs’ sites.

Species Stocking densities (fish/ha)

CARITAS BRAC PROSHIKA Common name Scientific name

Haluaghat Gopalgonj Fulbaria Santhia Kalkini B-Baria

Catla Catla catla 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,500 1,500 Rohu Labeo rohita 1,500 1,500 1,750 1,750 2,750 2,750

Silver carp Hypophthalmicthys molitrix 2,500 2,500 3,000 3,000 2,750 2,750 Common carp Cyprinus carpio 500 500 500 500 1,250 1,250

Mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala 500 500 1,500 1,500 1,250 1,250 Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella 500 500 750 750 500 500

Silver bar Puntius gonionotus 7,500 7,500 2,500 2,500 - -

Overall stocking density (fish/ha) 15,000 15,000 11,000 11,000 10,000 10,000

Species ratio At CARITAS sites Catla: Rohu : Silver carp : Silver barb : Common carp : Grass carp : Mrigal = 8:6:10:30:2:2:2

At BRAC sites Catla: Rohu : Silver carp : Silver barb : Common carp : Grass carp : Mrigal = 4:7:12:10:2:3:6 At PROSHIKA sites Catla: Rohu : Silver carp : Common carp : Grass carp : Mrigal = 6:11:11:5:2:5

ACRSP Work: On-Farm TrialACRSP Work: On-Farm Trial

ACRSP Work: On-Farm TrialACRSP Work: On-Farm Trial

Considering the production, fertilizer Considering the production, fertilizer input level, and economic return, all input level, and economic return, all on-farm trials have indicated that BAU on-farm trials have indicated that BAU fertilized regimes was the most fertilized regimes was the most appropriate for carp polyculture in appropriate for carp polyculture in Bangladesh. Bangladesh.

ACRSP Work: Fertilization WorkshopACRSP Work: Fertilization Workshop

A one-day workshop on Fertilization Strategies for A one-day workshop on Fertilization Strategies for Pond Culture in Bangladesh was held at Dhaka on Pond Culture in Bangladesh was held at Dhaka on 26 June 2003. 26 June 2003.

This workshop was organized by Aquaculture This workshop was organized by Aquaculture CRSP and AIT in cooperation with its partners, CRSP and AIT in cooperation with its partners, namely, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) namely, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and three NGOs (BRAC, CARITAS and and three NGOs (BRAC, CARITAS and PROSHIKA)PROSHIKA)– to disseminate results of on-station and on-farm trials of to disseminate results of on-station and on-farm trials of

fertilization strategies sponsored by Aquaculture CRSPfertilization strategies sponsored by Aquaculture CRSP– to enhance cooperation between Aquaculture CRSP and to enhance cooperation between Aquaculture CRSP and

academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs and academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs and international organizations in Bangladesh.international organizations in Bangladesh.

ACRSP Work: Fertilization WorkshopACRSP Work: Fertilization Workshop

Fifty participants includedFifty participants included– government fisheries officers (DOF)government fisheries officers (DOF)– researchers, university teachers and students researchers, university teachers and students

from Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, from Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Dhaka Bangladesh Agricultural University, Dhaka University and Rajshahi University University and Rajshahi University

– NGO extension workers from BRAC, CARITAS, NGO extension workers from BRAC, CARITAS, PROSHIKA, PBAEP, TMSSPROSHIKA, PBAEP, TMSS

– international organization staff from WorldFish international organization staff from WorldFish Center, SUFER Project/DFID. Center, SUFER Project/DFID.

ACRSP Work: Fertilization WorkshopACRSP Work: Fertilization Workshop

It was agreed that BAU fertilization regime will be used by all extension agencies of both GO and NGOs for carp polyculture ponds.

ACRSP Work: ImpactsACRSP Work: Impacts

BAU fertilization regimes have been used for pond BAU fertilization regimes have been used for pond fertilization at large by all stakeholders and farmers fertilization at large by all stakeholders and farmers all over Bangladesh. all over Bangladesh.

Through field visit and direct communication with Through field visit and direct communication with the extension agencies in different parts of the the extension agencies in different parts of the country, it has been revealed that country, it has been revealed that AACRSP CRSP recommended BAU fertilization regime has been recommended BAU fertilization regime has been widely used with minor modification where it widely used with minor modification where it needed.needed.