CPP Final workshop Dhaka - Sept 2000 Homestead culture of the African Catfish By Felix Marttin

Poverty alleviation through homestead fish culture Fisheries section Compartmentalization Pilot Project, Tangail Bangladesh Homestead catfish culture in Bangladesh

The poorest of the poor have no access to ponds

Effect of traditional aquaculture extension in Bangladesh: Landless300 kg/(ha*year)Tilapia, Common carp, Thai putiLandless300 kg/(ha*year)Tilapia, Common carp, Thai puti Small550 kg/(ha*year) Tilapia, Common carp, Thai putiSmall550 kg/(ha*year) Tilapia, Common carp, Thai puti Medium1050 kg/(ha*year) Silvercarp, Catla, Rui, MrigalMedium1050 kg/(ha*year) Silvercarp, Catla, Rui, Mrigal Large2000 kg/(ha*year) Catla, Rui, Mrigal, SilvercarpLarge2000 kg/(ha*year) Catla, Rui, Mrigal, Silvercarp

The ponds of the poorest of the poor have a low production potential for the involved households

Homestead Fish Culture Programme Other kind of aquaculture extension:

No income generating resources No income Poverty Rural poor in a vicious circle; the poverty circle The homestead fish culture programme aims to break this circle

What is available for poor people in 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 (snails, bivalves, mosquitoes, etc)What the area around the homestead offers (snails, bivalves, mosquitoes, etc)

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:

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 the homesteadEasy to keep, the fish can eat what is available around the homestead Fast growingFast growing Fry cheap and availableFry cheap and available Accepted by participants and marketAccepted by participants and market Species used by CPP: African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Criteria for participation in the CPP homestead catfish culture programme: General poor conditionGeneral poor condition LandlessLandless Walls of the shack consist of jute, mud or bambooWalls of the shack consist of jute, mud or bamboo

CPP homestead catfish culture data Participants: 80% Females, 15% Males, 5% Children 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: 61.4 Taka Average number of meals: meals per day

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 plasticThe 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:

Clarias gariepinus is an exotic species Introduced in the mid 1980’sIntroduced in the mid 1980’s Reproduction in Bangladeshi conditions is not provenReproduction in Bangladeshi conditions is not proven Open water is not stocked in the programme, high chance of capture before reproduction sizeOpen water is not stocked in the programme, high chance of capture before reproduction size Perceived as a ferocious predator, but is a lazy, opportunistic omnivore (0-8 planktivorous, >8 omnivorous)Perceived as a ferocious predator, but is a lazy, opportunistic omnivore (0-8 planktivorous, >8 omnivorous)

Depletion of resources around the homestead The effect of homestead fish culture on the surroundings of the homestead needs to be investigatedThe effect of homestead fish culture on the surroundings of the homestead needs to be investigated Food gathering is opportunistic behaviour, if a food source is abundantly available it will be collected, if not, alternatives will be sought afterFood gathering is opportunistic behaviour, if a food source is abundantly available it will be collected, if not, alternatives will be sought after

CPP homestead catfish culture data Investments needed for homestead catfish culture: 10 Tk (fry) On average 1 hour per day (four months) On average 1 hour per day (four months) Return per batch: 5 kilo’s of catfish Equal to: 400 Tk OR...

Production of biri sticks OR...

10 days of brick breaking

Successful method of poverty alleviationSuccessful 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 Conclusions:

Recommendations: Research in the effect of the method on the resources around the homesteadResearch in the effect of the method on the resources around the homestead Research for alternative speciesResearch for alternative species Application of this method as a tool for poverty alleviation and the improvement of the position of womenApplication of this method as a tool for poverty alleviation and the improvement of the position of women

Homestead catfish culture CPP Tangail, Bangladesh

CPP Final workshop