Culture and management practice in Mymensingh District: Perspective of fish production, disease occurrence and preventive measures

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the existing fish culture strategy and management practices in selected upazilas (viz., Mymensingh Sadar, Trishal, and Muktagacha) under Mymensingh district. The results showed that, the average pond area was ranged between 150 and 2000 decimal in Mymensingh Sadar, whereas it ranged from 100 to 1500 decimal in Trisal. However average pond area was comparatively higher in Muktagacha within 200-4000 decimal. The farmers of the study area adopted monoculture (50%). Whereas, one third (33.33%) of them preferred polyculture and a few (16.67%) followed both the culture systems. Preventive measures such as regular health checking (66.67%), drying of pond (66.67%) and applying lime in the pond (100%) were practiced in the studied farms. About 66.67% farmers used probiotics in their farms for beneficial purposes like water quality management, growth enhancement and disease resistance. 87.5% farmers acclimatized fry before stocking into the ponds at each selected upazila of Mymensingh district. Data showed that fish production was varied with culture types, areas, and culture period. The highest average production was in Trisal (158.5 Kg/decimal). Whereas, the average production in Mymensingh Sadar was (157.5 kg/decimal) and in Muktagacha was (143.5 kg/decimal). It was found that, the year- round production of Pangus was highest in Trisal 245 kg/decimal and lowest (150 kg/decimal) in Muktagachha. Tilapia production data showerd the best production (77.5 kg/decimal) in Mymensingh sadar, whereas the lowest (65 kg/decimal) in Trisal. Data regarding the disease and health analysis of cultured ponds showed that there were four different types of diseases found in the study area including bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoan diseases. Most of the farmers took some preventive measures such as regular fish health checking, pond drying, application of lime, weeding the pond, removing water turbidity, addition of water etc. Almost all the farmers (100%) in the selected area, always apply lime in their pond and controlling of aquatic weed was found to be practiced by 41.67% farmers.