Abstract
The present study investigated to know the current status and assessment of the economic benefit of twenty-five integrated fish farms in Noakhali region of Bangladesh. Qualitative and quantitative research data were collected between November 2018 to July 2019 through farm visit, focus group discussion and questionnaire interview. This total farming system covers a total 111.27 hectares of landmass where 78.51 hectares were used for fish production and 32.76 hectares for other production. Six major categories of integration were found, namely fish-poultry-livestock-horticulture, fish-poultry-horticulture, fish-livestock-horticulture, fish-horticulture, fish-poultry and fish-livestock integration. There are 21 fish species, 4 types of reared poultry and 3 types of reared livestock and a variety of fruits and vegetables were cultivated throughout the year. An increasing trend of integration was found in the study area. Total fish production from those 25 integrated farms was 326.4 tons/year, and the production value was BDT 43.37M approximately. Average production of fish, horticulture and poultry were 4.54, 13.96 and 1201.79 tons/ha/year. Total investment in 25 different integrated fish farms was about BDT 185.63M while total return was about BDT 227.85M. The benefit of an integrated farming system was BDT 0.38 M/ha/year. The wastes from livestock and poultry directly or indirectly used as fertilizer in the pond and horticulture farming system. A few farms convert this bio-waste as electrical energy through biogas plants to meet up farm’s electricity demand. With the help of proper guideline, technical and financial support the production of these integration systems could be boosted up. It will play a remarkable positive impact on the total economy of the country.
 Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. September 2020, 6(3): 525-529
Highlights
Agriculture in Bangladesh comprises vegetation, farm animals, and fisheries
Status of integration system There are six major categories of integration practiced in the study areas namely Fish-poultry- livestockhorticulture (F-P-L-H), Fish-poultry-horticulture (F-P-H), Fish-livestock-horticulture (F-L-H), Fish-horticulture (F-H), Fish-poultry (F-P) and Fish-livestock (F-L)
We found that Fish-poultry farming integration practice was highest (36%) and Fish-horticulture farming integration occupied the lowest
Summary
Agriculture in Bangladesh comprises vegetation, farm animals, and fisheries. It presents food, feed, fiber, and gasoline to its citizens and animals, and plays a crucial position in the financial development of Bangladesh. Chickens and ducks have been taken together 90 million (FAO, 2019) Those animals appear to produce a significant amount of excreta. In order to reduce such pollution, animals’ excreta can be utilized as fertilizer instead of other fertilizers or artificial feed through the integrated fish farming system in a pond (Bekibele et al, 2007). This way, fish production has been increased up to 4-5 t/ha/year (FAO, 2019). While single crop culture entrepreneurs are at risk and facing uncertainty due to inconsistent income and career opportunity to farmers, it is necessary to introduce a favourable integrated fish farming system for obtaining economic benefits and sustainable food production (Al Mamun and Debi, 2012). Our study attempted to gain information regarding the present status and financial benefit of integrated fish farming system in Noakhali, Bangladesh
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