STATUS OF FRESHWATER PRAWN CULTURE IN BANGLADESH

1. STATUS OF FRESHWATER PRAWN CULTURE IN BANGLADESH by Mahmudul Karim BANGLADESH SHRIMP FOUNDATION

2. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS • Title page • Table of contents • Introduction • Prawn farming quickly expanding • Factors encouraging expansion of prawn farming • Prawn farming reducing poverty • Species, farming and export • Contributions of shrimp and prawn to agri. primary commodity exports • Some current problems • Development needs

3. 3. INTRODUCTION • Bangladesh is a small country with large populations • Poverty reduction Central Theme of national policy • Agricultural land area constantly declining • Farmers need income increase from their limited and shrinking lands to meet minimum necessities of life • Freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii farming has emerged as a significant economic activity in rural Bangladesh since early 1990’s • Prawn farming quickly expanding

4. 4. PRAWN FARMING QUICKLY EXPANDING

5. Compatible with agriculture Small farmers can practice in their own land Opportunities for women’s involvement No interference with mangrove or environment Safer: not susceptible to WSSV disease or frequent tidal bores as in marine shrimp Can be normally grown in salinity up to 8 ppt Large suitable areas all over the country 5. FACTORS ENCOURAGING PRAWN FARMING EXPANSION

6. 6. PRAWN FARMING REDUCING POVERTY • Prawn farming reducing poverty in many areas • More than 80% of the farms less an acre and handled by small farmers • Large numbers of mono-crop low-yielding paddies now converted into farms producing high priced prawn and fish in rotation with paddy • Pond embankments grow vegetables and fruits fetching extra income and providing better nutrition • Women’s directly involved in increasing family income

7. 7. SPECIES, FARMING AREAS AND EXPORT • Out of over 20 species of prawn, only Macrobrachium rosenbergii is cultured • M. rosenbergii is the second most important cultured crustacea after marine black tiger shrimp Penaeius monodon in Bangladesh • Culture area 35,000 – 40,000 ha covering 15 – 20% of total crustacean farmsof about 200,000 ha • Principal prawn farming areas are in the southwest • 15% (US$54 mill.) to total export earning of US$ 362 million from shrimp and prawn in 2003-2004

8. 8. CONTRIBUTIONS OF SHRIMP AND PRAWN TOAGRI. PRIMARY COMMODITY EXPORTS

9. 9. SOME CURRENT PROBLEMS • Inadequate PL supply: Currently 350 million PL used • Hatcheries supply only 30 mill PL; most PL from wild • Culture mostly dependent on rain water; no assured perennial water supply or drainage network • Short time PL availability restricts culture period • Available commercial feeds are either of inadequate quality or are too expensive • Poor nursery practices • Declining wild brood-stock population due to over-fishing

10. 10. DEVELOPMENT NEEDS • Farm water supply and drainage infrastructure in farming areas under local level Master Plans • Extended hatchery operation to extend farming from the existing July - November to February-November • Increased PL production corresponding to needs • Cheap but effective feed availability • Nursery raising of male juveniles including over-wintered juveniles to raise two full crops of prawn • Conservation of wild brood prawn stocks for hatcheries • Extension materials for all stakeholders on GAP, food safety, environment and social issues

11. A prawn / a heap of prawn

12. Thank You