Shrimp farming in Southwestern Bangladesh: a case study of economic impacts during COVID-19

Rabeya Akter,Mujibur Rahman Khan

doi:10.3329/ajmbr.v7i3.56137

Rabeya Akter, Mujibur Rahman Khan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v7i3.56137

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Abstract

Bangladesh is endowed with a long coastline and therefore offers the enormous potential of marine wealth. In the coastal part of Bangladesh, shrimp is one of the most important export-oriented aquacultures due to high-profit return on the same value. Shrimp farming contributes significantly to the livelihoods of rural Bangladeshis in the southwestern region. It is critical to be aware of current culture practices and the measures shrimp farmers take to sustain the trend of exporting shrimp around the world. A random sampling was done of shrimp farmers in the Batiaghata Upazila of Khulna district to learn about the current state of shrimp farming and the challenges they are faced during COVID-19. The recent study reveals that most farmers following semi-intensive monoculture practice, application of organic sources in the shrimp pond, selection of PCR tested hatchery-produced Post Larvae (PL) and maintaining good hygiene practice that delivered considerable production of shrimp in this area. But in addition, with these good production farmers also face some difficulties. Some major shrimp diseases were identified in this study including White Feces Disease (WFD), White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome (EMS), Black Gill Disease and some parasite attacks like Zutharium. Lower market price, flood and mortality are other constraints for shrimp farming. The low market price is the major issue for shrimp farmers nowadays around this pandemic situation. As a result, the government, donor agencies, planners, academics, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should come forward during the pandemic periods to assist farmers in resolving challenges and ensuring shrimp export revenues of Bangladesh are sustainable. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2021, 7 (3), 273-283

Highlights

With the extensive inland, coastal, and marine water resources, Bangladesh, a country blessed with diversified aquatic resources and a land area of 147,570 km2 is regarded one of the top fish-producing countries in the world (Ghose, 2014)
Farmers were chosen for questionnaire interview through random sampling and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools like Large Group Discussion (LGD), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and CrossCheck interviews with Key Information (KI)
Status of shrimp farmers According to the findings, 70% of shrimp farmers in Batiaghata Upazila have been active in shrimp farming for more than ten years from 2009-2010 whereas 15.5% and 14.5% started shrimp culture in 1989-1990 and 19841985 respectively

Summary

Introduction

Coastal, and marine water resources, Bangladesh, a country blessed with diversified aquatic resources and a land area of 147,570 km is regarded one of the top fish-producing countries in the world (Ghose, 2014). Bangladesh has made great development in the fisheries industry, contributing significantly to the improvement of food security and socioeconomic status in the dependent population both of which are critically addressed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in terms of nutritional security, good health and well-being, poverty alleviation, and reduced inequities, fish from capture fisheries and aquaculture help marginalized people preserve their food supply and livelihoods (Sunny et al, 2021a). Coastal aquaculture, which includes shrimp and prawn, finfish, and shrimp cultivation in ghers (ponds/ enclosures), are growing in popularity and farmers who follow Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) are increasingly interested in adopting environment-friendly shrimp growing systems including cluster shrimp- farmers in a certain area are.

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