CPP Final workshopCPP Final workshop

Dhaka - Sept 2000Dhaka - Sept 2000

Homestead culture of the African CatfishHomestead culture of the African Catfish

ByBy

Felix MarttinFelix Marttin

Poverty alleviation through homestead fish culturePoverty alleviation through homestead fish culture

Fisheries sectionFisheries section

Compartmentalization Pilot Compartmentalization Pilot Project, TangailProject, Tangail

BangladeshBangladesh

Homestead catfish culture in BangladeshHomestead catfish culture in Bangladesh

Average pondsize per household

191 5721076

4549

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Pon

d s

ize

(m2 )

The poorest of the poor have no The poorest of the poor have no access to pondsaccess to ponds

Effect of traditional aquaculture extension in Bangladesh:Effect of traditional aquaculture extension in Bangladesh:

•LandlessLandless 300 kg/(ha*year)300 kg/(ha*year) Tilapia, Common carp, Thai putiTilapia, Common carp, Thai puti

•SmallSmall 550 kg/(ha*year) 550 kg/(ha*year) Tilapia, Common carp, Thai putiTilapia, Common carp, Thai puti

•MediumMedium 1050 kg/(ha*year) 1050 kg/(ha*year) Silvercarp, Catla, Rui, MrigalSilvercarp, Catla, Rui, Mrigal

•LargeLarge 2000 kg/(ha*year) 2000 kg/(ha*year) Catla, Rui, Mrigal, SilvercarpCatla, Rui, Mrigal, Silvercarp

Household aquaculture production-potential in Bangladesh

6 31 113

732

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Kg

/(H

ous

eho

ld*y

ea

r)The ponds of the poorest of the poor have a low The ponds of the poorest of the poor have a low

production potential for the involved production potential for the involved householdshouseholds

Homestead Fish Culture ProgrammeHomestead Fish Culture Programme

Other kind of aquaculture extension:Other kind of aquaculture extension:

No income generating No income generating resourcesresources

No incomeNo income PovertyPoverty

Rural poor in a vicious circle;Rural poor in a vicious circle;

the poverty circlethe poverty circle

The homestead fish culture The homestead fish culture programme aims to break programme aims to break this circlethis circle

What What isis available for poor people in available for poor people in Bangladesh?Bangladesh?

•LabouringLabouring

•Some land on which their shack is buildSome land on which their shack is build

•WaterWater

•What the area around the homestead offers What the area around the homestead offers (snails, bivalves, mosquitoes, etc)(snails, bivalves, mosquitoes, etc)

Requirements for Homestead Fish Culture:Requirements for Homestead Fish Culture:

•Fish fryFish fry

•WaterWater

•Food for the fishFood for the fish

•Ditch (one square meter)Ditch (one square meter)

Examples of ditches:Examples of ditches:

Examples of ditches:Examples of ditches:

What fish species can be used?What fish species can be used?

•Survive in anoxic water (water without oxygen)Survive in anoxic water (water without oxygen)

•Easy to keep, the fish can eat what is available around Easy to keep, the fish can eat what is available around the homesteadthe homestead

•Fast growingFast growing

•Fry cheap and availableFry cheap and available

•Accepted by participants and marketAccepted by participants and market

Species used by CPP:Species used by CPP:

African Catfish (African Catfish (Clarias gariepinusClarias gariepinus))

Criteria for participation in the CPP Criteria for participation in the CPP homestead catfish culture programme:homestead catfish culture programme:

•General poor conditionGeneral poor condition

•LandlessLandless

•Walls of the shack consist Walls of the shack consist of jute, mud or bambooof jute, mud or bamboo

CPP homestead catfish culture dataCPP homestead catfish culture data

Participants:Participants:

80% Females, 15% Males, 5% Children80% Females, 15% Males, 5% Children

Average household size:Average household size:

4.7 (1.4 male, 1.3 female, 2 children)4.7 (1.4 male, 1.3 female, 2 children)

Average daily income per household:Average daily income per household:

61.4 Taka61.4 Taka

Average number of meals:Average number of meals:

2 - 3 meals per day2 - 3 meals per day

Rules for catfish culture:Rules for catfish culture:

•The fish need to be fed every dayThe fish need to be fed every day

•The food can be anything except grass and plastic The food can be anything except grass and plastic

•Bad smelling water needs to be changedBad smelling water needs to be changed

•No size differences of the fish are allowedNo size differences of the fish are allowed

•Clarias gariepinus is an exotic species in BangladeshClarias gariepinus is an exotic species in Bangladesh

•Depletion of resources around the homesteadDepletion of resources around the homestead

Environmental concerns:Environmental concerns:

Clarias gariepinus is an exotic speciesClarias gariepinus is an exotic species

•Introduced in the mid 1980’sIntroduced in the mid 1980’s

•Reproduction in Bangladeshi conditions is not Reproduction in Bangladeshi conditions is not proven proven

•Open water is not stocked in the programme, high Open water is not stocked in the programme, high chance of capture before reproduction sizechance of capture before reproduction size

•Perceived as a ferocious predator, but is a lazy, Perceived as a ferocious predator, but is a lazy, opportunistic omnivore (0-8 planktivorous, >8 opportunistic omnivore (0-8 planktivorous, >8 omnivorous)omnivorous)

Depletion of resources around the Depletion of resources around the homesteadhomestead

•The effect of homestead fish culture on the surroundings of The effect of homestead fish culture on the surroundings of the homestead needs to be investigatedthe homestead needs to be investigated

•Food gathering is opportunistic behaviour, if a food source Food gathering is opportunistic behaviour, if a food source is abundantly available it will be collected, if not, alternatives is abundantly available it will be collected, if not, alternatives will be sought after will be sought after

Total biomass Chari in the Bari

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Number of days

Bio

mass (

gra

ms)

.

CPP homestead catfish culture dataCPP homestead catfish culture data

Investments needed for homestead catfish Investments needed for homestead catfish cultureculture::

10 Tk (fry)10 Tk (fry)

On average 1 hour per day (four months)On average 1 hour per day (four months)

Return per batch:Return per batch:

5 kilo’s of catfish5 kilo’s of catfish

Equal to:Equal to:

400 Tk400 Tk

OR...OR...

Production of 160000 biri sticksProduction of 160000 biri sticks

OR...OR...

10 days of brick breaking10 days of brick breaking

•Successful method of poverty alleviation Successful method of poverty alleviation •Can be a useful tool to improve the position of womenCan be a useful tool to improve the position of women

ConclusionsConclusions::

Recommendations:

•Research in the effect of the method on the Research in the effect of the method on the resources around the homesteadresources around the homestead

•Research for alternative speciesResearch for alternative species

•Application of this method as a tool for poverty Application of this method as a tool for poverty alleviation and the improvement of the position alleviation and the improvement of the position of womenof women

Homestead catfish cultureHomestead catfish culture

CPP Tangail, BangladeshCPP Tangail, Bangladesh

CPP Final workshop