CURRENT SCENARIO OF FISH-HORTICULTURE BASED INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM IN THE NORTH-WEST OF BANGLADESH: MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND CONSTRAINTS

Abstract

This research focuses on the current scenario of the Fish-Horticulture based integrated farming system (FHIFS) compared with conventional fish farming (CFF) in north west Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews from farmers of FHIFS and CFF. The findings reveal that fishes were cultured in polyculture systems and horticultural crops were planted in the embankment of pond. A total of 22 species of fish, 8 species of fruits and 6 species of vegetables were cultivated as integrated farming in the study area. In FHIFS the highest cultivated fish was Rui (82.76%) and the most cultivated crop was Banana (70.83%). The study also reveals that the annual hectare-1 net revenue from FHIFS was US$ 12,462.7, 2.5 times higher than CFF (US$ 4941.2). FHIFS had a higher benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.70 as compared with 1.43 for CFF. The annual net revenue and BCR shows that the FHIFS is highly potential and profitable than CFF. The also findings indicate that 65.5% of the respondent experienced medium constraints. Based on the constraint facing index (CFI) the lack of proper distribution of government facilities was ranked first among all the constraints which was followed by insufficient extension services (Rank 2nd) and high cost of operation (Rank 3rd). FHIFS could be prioritized to ensure food security through proper distribution of support, minimizing operation and labor costs, and developing a community-based integrated fish farming.