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1

CHAPTER-01

INTRODUCATION


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Importance of Fisheries

Bangladesh is endowed with rich and extensive fishery resources; inland, estuarine and

marine with a wide variety of indigenous and exotic fish fauna. The soil, water and climate of

Bangladesh are unique for inland fisheries, both open and closed water. Fish and fisheries are

indispensable part in the life and livelihood of peoples of the country since time immemorial.

Fisheries sector plays an important role in providing nutrition, foreign exchange earnings and

generation of employment opportunities. ven in inland fisheries, Bangladesh ran!s third

among the top ten countries of the world. Fish alone contributes about "#$ to the national

annual protein inta!e of the country. %alnutrition is still in fact a serious and of a bigger

dimension problem in Bangladesh especially for growing children and is caused mainly due to

animal protein & deficient diets. 'nimal protein is essential for proper growth, repair and

maintenance of body tissues. Fish contain about 1"&(#$ protein compared to about 1($ in

egg, ).*$ in mil! and "&+$ in rice and wheat. 's Bangladesh has a limited prospect of

producing animal protein from other !nown source li!e poultry and cattle, fish is not only the

most important source of animal protein for the poorest segments of the population but often

the only one. n 1--#&-1 and 1--1&-( total fish production was +.-" and -.*( la!h metric ton

in the country respectively which increased to 11.( la!h metric ton during 1--/&-*.Thus an

increasing trend in fish production was noticed and this continued onward. n 1--(&-),

fisheries sector contributed /.($ to 02. 3ithin the agricultural sector, fisheries accounted

for 1).$. xport earning constituted about .*$ of the country4s total export earnings

5oF, 1---6.This sector is considered to be a potential source of self&employment for poor

farmers and displaced capture fishermen. 7apid development of aquaculture has already

generated considerable employment through culture of mar!etable fish seed production and

mar!eting of fish and fishery products. 't present this sector absorbs close to 1(.)# million

people, out of which 1.)# million are getting full time employment. 'lso it is significant that

there are 11 million part&time fishermen and women in the country and that )$ of the

households are involved in subsistence fisheries in floodplain 5oF, (##*6. The 8ational

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'griculture 9ommission of ndia while estimating the employment potential of fish culture

has indicated that every ton of fish produced provides employment to (.* persons 5:umar,

1--(6. o, there is ample opportunity of self&employment through aquaculture in the country.

The climate of Bangladesh is unique for aquaculture and fisheries resource management.

3inter lasts only for about ( months whereas temperature and rainfall ranges from #< c to

/#< c and 11# to )/## mm respectively. 'll these contribute to the richness of its vast and

varied fisheries and aquaculture resources and provide favorable environment for aquaculture

in particular. t is surprising to note that most of the houses have at least one homestead

multipurpose domestic pond in the country almost suitable for aquaculture. =oo!ing into

vastness of available water and human resources in the country the existing support services

and extension networ! were always considered far below the adequate level. %oreover ox&bow la!es, floodplain and coastal shrimp farm require special extension service for its nature

and dimension. n such context, a technical assistance pro>ect entitled, ?nstitutional

strengthening in the Fisheries ector? was >ointly implemented by 0ovt. of Bangladesh 50oB6

and F'@A82 during 1--#&1--*. The extension component under the pro>ect had been

assigned to increase per unit fish production from pond aquaculture through conducting

demonstration of integrated semi&intensive fish culture. The extension component undertoo!

fisheries extension activities through CTric!le down xtension ystem4 in 11 out of "/districts in the country. There was no definite fisheries extension approach of ept. ofD

Fisheries 5oF6 before adopting CTric!le down xtension 'pproach4 for aquaculture

extension in Bangladesh. 8atore was one of the districts out of 11 in the country. The author

was directly involved and responsible with the aquaculture extension activities under the

pro>ect as istrict Fisheries @fficer and wor!ed as head of oF in 8atore district .The author

carried out the present observation in consultation and guidance from r. ilip :umar,

expatriate CFishery xtension xpert4 under the F'@A82 pro>ect Enstitutional

strengthening in the Fisheries ector?5B0A+A#/*6. The present observations on the

efficiency of CTric!le down xtension 5T6 'pproach4 in aquaculture development are

based upon the activities performed in 8atore district. t may be considered as a representative

of Bangladesh as the factors li!e socio&economic, agro climatic and techno&commercial etc

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are more or less same throughout the country except the hill tract districts. Facts and figures

related to this observation are collected, compiled and presented by the author applied to the

situation prevailing during the years from mid of 1--( to mid of 1--*.

1. Fisheries Reso!rces of "an#$a%esh

' total of approximately /.)# million ha of inland water area is available for fish production.

@ut of these about 1./" million ha are perennial and the remaining are seasonal inundated

crop fields and low&lying flood plains almost suitable for aquaculture. ' total number of 1."

million ponds are available 52'77@, 1-+/6. n addition around 1.#+ million ha of brac!ish

water area is utilied under shrimp culture. Towards marine sector the country possesses /+#

!m of coast line with xclusive conomic Gone 5G6.t is surprising to note that nearly all

homestead in the country own a small to medium sie multipurpose domestic pond. nland

closed waters with aquaculture potentials are ponds and ditches, ox&bow la!es and coastal

shrimp farms&covering * (+,)-# ha. n addition many of the water bodies such as beels

5natural depression6, borrow pits, seasonal flood plains, rice fields4 and irrigation canals etc.,

are also considered to be potential areas for aquaculture. 7ecent inland fisheries production

records have indicated that there has been rise in the production from aquaculture while a

decreasing trend is noticed in open waters capture fisheries. everal factors have been

responsible for such decline in production of fish; population pressure and resultant over

fishing have reduced the natural stoc! in open waters. =arge scale siltation discharge of

industrial effluent, increasing use of insecticides and other related factors, reduction in inland

fish habitat and changes to aquatic environment resulting from the implementation of flood

control, drainage and irrigation canals etc. are the principal causes of decline of fish

production in the country. 'll these facts suggest that to meet the increasing demand of fish to

our growing millions we will have to depend largely on aquaculture.

1.& A'!ac!$t!re Techno$o#(

n inland waters, carp culture is widely practiced. The carp culture system as a whole is

operated as a three&tier culture system where the practices are adopted for rearing fish during

their different stages till they are harvested. pawn 5post larvae6 are reared up to fry 5(&) cm6

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stage in nursery ponds, fry to fingerlings 5+ & 1( cm6 in rearing ponds and finally fingerlings

to table sie fish in culture ponds or stoc!ing ponds. 7elatively smaller seasonal ponds are

mainly used for rearing spawn to fry stage and harvested after (&) wee!s. everal crops 5)&/6

of fry are usually cultured during the season. 2ond fertiliation by cattle manure and feeding

with 1H1 mixture of oil ca!es and rice bran is the usual practice. Fry raised in nurseries are

reared up to fingerling in slightly bigger ponds 5#.#* & #.1 ha6 of seasonal or perennial in

nature. Fingerlings are removed after *#&"# days and stoc!ed in rearing ponds. The most

successful system of pond fish culture is the poly culture of three ndian ma>or carp species

namely; 9atla (Catla catla),7ohu (Labeo rohita) and %rigal (Cirrhina mrigala) along with

three 9hinese carps namely ; ilver carp (Hypopthalmicthys molitrix) 0rass carp

(Ctenopharyngodon idella) and 9ommon carp(Cyprinus carpio). The best results in terms offish production in this system results not only through a >udicious combination of species but

also due to appropriate management techniques including pond fertiliation & both organic and

inorganic and supplementary feeding with mustard oil ca!es, rice bran and wheat bran and

health care. @n the basis of growth performance of different species, modifications are often

made in stoc!ing density, species ratio, fertiliation schedule and supplementary feeding

program in different environment. %ultiple harvest and stoc!ing are also practiced during

rearing operation 5:umar, 1--(6. Fish production to the tune of /& tonAhaAyear have beenachieved in different areas of Bangladesh by applying the above mentioned culture

technology. n south&western part of Bangladesh where seeds of freshwater prawn is

available, poly culture of fish with giant freshwater prawn Cgolda chingri4 5Macrobraclrium

rosenbergii) israised. n this practice more attention ispaid to maintain a high water quality

in pond with requisite fertiliing and feeding. pecial care is ta!en to avoid any in>ury during

molting of prawn. 8atural seeds of prawn are generally collected from the nearby rivers and

stoc!ed in freshwater ponds for rearing purpose. Bottom feeders li!e %rigal 59. mrigala) and

9ommon carp 59. carpio) are removed from stoc!ing and freshwater prawn is substituted for

them. Benthos produced from the properly fertilied pond form the bul! of natural feed of

prawn. 's the freshwater prawn is high priced item in the mar!et, it helps to increase the

income of the fish farmer A pond owners. uccessful demonstrations of bac!yard hatchery

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operation and thereby nursing of freshwater prawn seed can ensure the supply of seed

throughout the country which will integrate the fresh water prawn culture with carps. This

integration can bring a drastic change in the industry in earning foreign exchange, capital

investment and employment generation opportunities. Besides two or three fold income of

fish farmers are expected from poly culture of freshwater prawn and fish farming. 't this

stage this technology is highly dependant on the availability of seeds of prawn through

artificial propagation and adoption of the same by private entrepreneurs.

Farming of tiger shrimp 5Penaeus monodon)in the coastal belts especially in the south&east

and south&west part of Bangladesh is slowly emerging as a growing industry. There is a bright

prospect of increasing the production of shrimp by refining the culture technology such aspond preparation, removal of predatory and weed fishes, proper fertiliing, stoc!ing in proper

density and feeding with quality supplementary feeds along with better water quality

management. Iowever, the shrimp production industry in the country needs a big push in

adopting the modem technology of raising shrimp attracting a huge investment from the

private sectors A entrepreneurs and a favorable 0ovt. policy towards the development of this

sector.

1.) Past Efforts of A'!ac!$t!re E*tension +er,ice

3ith the recommendations from r. 7amaswamy 8aido 5eptember, 1-)+6 the irectorate of

Fisheries was first set up in 1-/(. 'fter partition of ndia in 1-/, it was bifurcated and

shifted to 9omilla district. n 1-*/ the developmental functions along with the staff were

transferred to the newly formed irectorate of xtension and 7ural evelopment. Iowever

this arrangement did not wor! and the irectorate was again restored to its original form in

1-**. Fisheries extension activities were felt vital but could be experienced that it wor!s

better when the activities are controlled by the Fisheries irectorate proper. ven during the

first * year plan of the then 2a!istan the development program for fisheries had integrated

research and extension components. ' scheme was prepared even during those days wherein

it was proposed to have an extension unit under the control of Fisheries pecialist who will

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utilie the fisheries and other related personnel for social, economic and general improvement

of the area so far fish, fisheries and fishing industries are concerned. The second * year plan

comprised of )* schemes. @ut of which (1 were related to development of fisheries and the

remaining 1/ were for research, education and extension. uring the said plan period; -.*

million fish fry were produced; + million distributed out of them to the interested fish culturist

bringing about improvement in over ""+# ha of water areas. Fish eed %ultiplication Farms

were constructed to meet the growing demand of fish seed among the fish culturists. The

sub>ect of conservation and biological management was also felt equally important and

accordingly () Fisheries were declared as sanctuaries. For the first time a Fisheries xtension

ervice cheme was introduced at an expenditure of T!. -.*" la!h. uring the period

approximately *#,### ponds were surveyed, 1+,### ponds were brought under culture and/+# model fish culture demonstration started. ' ?0row more fish? scheme was also ta!en up

under which 11 million fish fry were raised and distributed free of cost among the interested

farmers. The fisheries development activities of the public sector was by and large limited to

inland water until 1-"/ when the then ast 2a!istan Fisheries evelopment 9orporation was

created for exploiting marine resources. n order to explore fisheries resource potential of the

Bay of Bengal, a pre&investment survey was underta!en in collaboration with F'@ and other

infra&structural support were given in recognition as these were found to be essentialinstrument for development. Iowever, as early as 1-"# a post of xtension @fficer was

created to coordinate the extension activities of the department.

ince independence in 1-1 the 0overnment of Bangladesh has ta!en vigorous attempts to

enhance the development of Fisheries sub&sector. everal ma>or fisheries development

pro>ects were planned, financed and implemented by the public sector. Four plans have

already been implemented. n the on&going Fourth Five Jear 2lan FFJ251--#&1--*6

0overnment set forth an ambitious program to increase fish production and exports to create

greater employment opportunities and to improve the socio&economic conditions of the target

group particularly fishermen. n mid seventies, a 89F sponsored pro>ect ?trengthening

of Fisheries xtension ervice? was started under which (* Fish eed %ultiplication Farm


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5F%F6 were upgraded and activated by creating hatcheries, water supply system, training

dormitories and other facilities. To enhance fisheries extension activities throughout the

country, "# post of nit xtension @fficer were created under the pro>ect. Besides conducting

training on fish culture for the rural youths under the pro>ect, a few result demonstrations

supplying with some inputs were started but due to lac! of proper extension approach the

performance of the extension activities failed to give any measurable change. 'nother *#

F%F have been upgraded in the early eighties under the 'sian evelopment Ban! 5'B6

assisted First 'quaculture evelopment pro>ect. uring 1-+" management of (# F%F has

been transferred to 0rameen Ban! to facilitate one spot input and credit facilities to fish

farmers. %ost of the F%Fs have now excellent facilities for demonstration of fish breeding

techniques, seed rearing and table sie fish production etc. These farms also offer testing ofnewly developed aquaculture technologies and transfer of tested technological !now&how to

fish farmers, training of unemployed youths and extension staff of oF. These farms also

provide sufficient support to on going developmental activities. n addition to the networ! of

F%Fs, several Fisheries xtension and Training 9enters 5FT9s6 have also been established

with excellent facilities for practical and field oriented training for officers, staff and fish

farmers. uch training activities are of regular feature at Fisheries Training and xtension

9entre, Faridpur; FT9, 9handpur; 9entral Fish Breeding K Training 9entre, :otchandpur,Lhenaidah; Fish Breeding K Training 9entre, 7aipur , =a!shmipur. %ore or less similar

facilities now exist at F%F, 8atore and better facilities at 8orth&west Fisheries xtension

2ro>ect at 2arbatipur, ina>pur. Freshwater prawn hatchery at 9oxDs baar and shrimp culture

demonstration centers at :hepupara, Barguna and 9harfashan, Bhola have also been

established to extend extension support to the neighboring shrimp farmers.

Iowever, loo!ing into the vastness of available water and human resources in the country the

existing support services and extension networ! were always considered far below the

adequate level. The on&going 'B assisted econd 'quaculture evelopment 2ro>ect tend to

promote extension of shrimp and carp culture in (* districts of the country. The basic strategy

of the extension program of this pro>ect is to train the existing staff of oF wor!ing in the

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selected districts and organiing demonstration of improved culture practice, pond

engineering, hatchery and fry handling techniques etc. The pro>ect mobilies the desired

material inputs to the farmers, the cost of which would be realied after the farmers sell their

crop. uring the span of the pro>ect such demonstration will be carried out in 1/+ shrimp and

111) poly culture based farmer4s ponds. imilar strategies are also being followed in other

areas of the country under the ntegrated Fisheries evelopment 2ro>ect of oF, Bangladesh.

The ' assisted shrimp culture pro>ect covers shrimp culture extension activities in the four

coastal districts namely 9oxDsbaar, at!hira, Bagerhat and :hulna. nder this pro>ect the

technology of producing post larvae of tiger shrimp 5P. monodon) in hatcheries has been

demonstrated in 9ox4sbaar and :hulna region. Besides two emonstration Farm&cum&Training 9entre 5FT96 one each in :hulna and 9ox4sbaar area are being established to

demonstrate improved culture technology and to provide training to shrimp farmers and

hatchery operators. The trained extension staff is expected to process loan application,

supervise and implement of on&farm investment, credit and business management of farms.

'dequate financing for construction of shrimp farms and hatcheries in the private sectors

would be provided from the pro>ect.

nder the ' assisted @xbow la!e evelopment pro>ect, six oxbow la!es in the districts of

Lessore, 8arail and Lhenaidah were developed and managed by stoc!ing and subsequent

harvesting by listed fishermen since 1-+#&+1. This has greatly contributed to the rise of family

income of the involved fisherman. nder the >oint program of Bangladesh 7ural evelopment

Board and oF, +# ha of !has ponds in greater districts of 7a>shahi, 2abna and :ushtia have

been re&excavated and developed for fish culture and leased out to landless poorAmarginal

farmers. They are also being trained for 1* days at F%F :ushtia and 8atore on improved

method of fish culture.

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nder '8' assisted 8oa!hali 7ural evelopment 2ro>ect 58726 which covers

8oa!hali, =a!shmipur and Feni district over 11,### persons have been trained on fish culture,

induced breeding of fish, fish hatchery and nursery operations. n addition ))# fish culture

demonstration ponds have been ta!en up for transfer of improved technologies.

'8' supported %ymensingh 'quaculture xtension 2ro>ect 5%'26 is under operation

in %ymensingh, Lamalpur and herpur district with the overall ob>ectives of increasing fish

production, creating employment, increase income and creating co&operation and group

formation. The extension approach followed by the pro>ect guarantees availability of all

aquaculture supports down to the village level with efficient and quic! delivery system.

The Bay of Bengal program 5B@B26 of F'@ is also operating xtension evelopment 2ro>ect

in 2atua!hali and Barguna district. everal micro level pro>ects have been designed aiming

group formation, initiative of group saving scheme, credit delivery to support economic

activities, participation and involvement of women, introduction of aquaculture and post

harvest technology and implementation of social program li!e literacy, health, education,

water supply, sanitation etc. are the core functions of the pro>ect. 7egular fortnightly group

visits by extension staff to support and monitor the activities are being followed.

t has been realied that not only dedicated and effective extension service but also an appropriate

extension approach is critically needed to give definite direction to the program ensuring

maximum impact. nder F'@A82 technical assistance pro>ect Enstitutional trengthening in

the Fisheries ectorM 5B0A+A#/*6, the oF has operated an extension program which is based

upon CTric!le down xtension 5T6 'pproach4. n T 'pproach, selection of the farmers is

based upon their experience on fish culture, resources and interest. @ne&day preparatory training

is organied for the selected fish farmers to implant self pride, self confidence and most basic

aspect of culture technology they intend to follow. 'bsolutely no input support is extended and to

compensate this intensive efforts are rendered towards motivational and convincing aspects. ach

such farmer is designated as 7esult emonstrator Fish Farmer 576 who involves 1# neighboring

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farmers designated as Fellow Fish Farmer 5FF6. 7 get one day training once in every ) months

and in turn they organie one day training for their lin!ed 1# FF at their pond site. uring 1--# N

1--), over *## 7 with )## FF had been adopted from 11 districts in the country. nder the

auspices of this program, the present Cobservations on the efficiency of tric!le down extension

approach in aquaculture development4 was conducted.

%oreover, development partners li!e 3orld Ban!, 'B, B, F 5former @'6, L9',

'8' etc are actively involved in the development of fisheries. Besides, there are more

than 1## international, national and local 80@s that are active in promoting fisheries

development throughout the country. Their activities include utiliation of resources,

introduction of new fish culture technology, inputs supply, offering credit, arranging training,seminars and wor!shops for fish farmers, landless people, marginal farmers, distressed group

etc.

1. "roa% O/ecti,es of the +t!%(

'n appropriate extension system is needed for any organied and well directed extension

system. ?Tric!le down xtension system? has been developed recently and presently being

followed by oF under F'@A82 assisted pro>ect ?nstitutional trengthening in the

Fisheries ector 5B0A+A#/*6? from 1--# for effective aquaculture extension service in the

country. This is the high time to test the practicability of the system in Bangladesh. This is the

first demonstration of this type of aquaculture extension system in the region including

Bangladesh, ndia and 2a!istan.

The overall ob>ectives of the study are to implement, monitor and evaluate the theoried

?Tric!le down xtension system? in aquaculture development.

The specific ob>ectives of the study wereH

i6 To transfer the low input based improved fish culture technology to selected fish

farmers through tric!ling down process of !nowledge and s!ill;

ii6 To increase income of marginal A poor fish farmers through self&employment of lin!ed

farmers and their family members;

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iii6 To test the practicability of aquaculture extension without material input assistance;

iv6 To develop locally applicable aquaculture technology tailored according to need and

ability of the fish farmers;

v6 To create a continuous learning environment for fish farmers and promote

participatory movement of fish farmersA pond owners;

vi6 To give opportunity to fish farmers from different segments to participate.

1. Importance of the +t!%(

2resentations made at various fora around the globe have always pointed out that reaping a

good developmental harvest in rural sector largely depends upon three basic inputsH

appropriate technological base, extension efforts and credit and other service supports.n the

process, extension catalyses the crystalliation of development as soon as the reagents i.e.

improved technologies and mobilied inputs is mixed in the bac!ground of available natural

and human resources.

2roper analysis of the laid past plan ob>ectives and accomplishments made so far show that

the production targets were always fixed much lower than the national requirements of the

population and in spite of that the targets could never be achieved. 'mong several reasons

attributed to the shortfall one of the most acceptable explanations remained the extremely

inadequate extension and service support in the fisheries sector. f we review the pace of

fisheries development in 'sian countries, it is evident that the development depends upon

many factors including the support services and the system of information transfer from the

7esearch and evelopment 9enters to the farmers and fishermen at the grass root level.

3ithout the existence of such a system even the output of research and development is totally

wasted. 7ecent experiences in several countries have pointed out that an organied orreorganied extension service along with strictly professional lines can have a significant and

rapid impact on increasing fisheries production and raising the standard of living of fish

farmers and fishermen 57ahman K Iaque, 1--16. n the above context it is evident that there

exists a big gap between potential production based upon available aquaculture technology

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and the actual national fish production in the outh 'sian countries. The cause is well !nown.

The fish farmers are relatively poor, illiterate and ignorant lot and hence they remain unaware

of the technological innovations. %erely due to this reason, there is emphasis on transfer of

technology carrying the information from lab to landA ponds 57ahman K Iaque, 1--16.

The outcome of this field oriented study will provide a lot of valuable information which will

form basis for planning aquaculture extension strategy in the countries of this region including

Bangladesh, ndia and 2a!istan etc.

1. Phi$osoph( of E*tension

1..1 E*tension - Economic Necessit(

Today most enlightened governments have realied that without a stable, productive and

contented rural population, all other factors towards economic development may fail. 8o

country can afford to neglect its rural population for the following reasonsH First, every

country needs an ample and dependable supply of staple foods for the whole nation. n a

country where the farmers A fish farmers are discontented or not very efficient, the supply of

staple foods can not meet the demands of the whole nation. econd, where there is a great

difference between the standard of living of city&dwellers and that of rural people, many of

the best young men will tend to leave agriculture A aquaculture and drift to the cities. But the

city is not always able to absorb them. The result is overcrowding slums, unemployment,

vagrancy and social unrest. Third, it has been found that besides producing food, a modern

farmer can also grow industrial crops. These crops provide valuable raw materials for many

and diverse industries which help to provide employment for swelling population and increase

national wealth. Thus extension serves the economic ob>ectives of the nation.

1.. E*tension "ase% ResearchThe main focus of extension is on people and the things that cause people to act as they do or

how to influence them to change. 't least two things are necessary to bring about change

namelyH

16 ource of new information

(6 pread of the information to the masses.

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The people in general have little opportunity to compare their practices with others; often they

are not even aware there is room for improvement. Therefore the first >ob of the extension

wor!ers have to do is to help the people define their own problems. @nce the problems have

been clarified, the extension wor!er can present them to the researchers, who in turn try to

loo! for possible solution. 'gain the extension wor!ers have to bring the solution bac! to the

villager. Ie has to translate abstract formula into clear understandable language and show

them how; when and where the new !nowledge may he profitably applied. Thus research

discovers and develops technology; it is the source of new information. xtension imparts the

technology to be usedH it spreads necessary information from its source to the ultimate user &

the villager and the members of his family and encourages them to use the information. The

concept is illustrated in Fig.1 belowH

Fi#. 1. Research as a "asis of E*tension Phi$osoph(

1..& E*tension "ases its Pro#rams on Peop$e2s Nee% as 3e$$ as Technica$ an%

Nationa$ Economic Nee%s 5Bradfield, . L. 1-6

'll people desire higher goals in life. @nce people are convinced of the value of new methods

and the new methods will help them to reach their goal, they will change to attain this desired

goal. Therefore the ma>or tas! of extension is to convince the people of the value of new and

better practices. xtension paves the way for further progress by ma!ing the community

aware of the benefits to be obtained from this program.

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1.. E*tension Cooperation

xtension is only one of the many factors which tend to produce change in society.

'quaculture extension is concerned mainly with producing change to improve fish

production. The basic principle of extension can be illustrated by a source hierarchy circle asillustrated in Fig. ).

Fi#. &. +ocia$ hierarch( circ$es as asis of phi$osoph( of e*tension

Bigger circleH Target of development area & needing critical attention;

mall circleH rban sector & needing less attention;

maller circleH 0overnment & for policy and decision.

The outer ring represents the target group mostly in the poverty stric!en rural areas beset with

problems of poverty; hardly able to meet their basic needs. The succeeding circle represents

the urban area with comparatively lesser problems and the inner core circle, the government.

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Through extension the government see!s to bring about development and positive change to

alleviate the problem areas, uplift socio&economic conditions in the rural area and prevent the

influx of the population to the urban areas. To bring about development through extension,

various areas of the economic sectors are being tapped and aquaculture is one of them. The

principle of extension is summed up in the 9hinese proverbH ? 0ive man a fish and he has

food for the day. Teach him how to grow fish and he has food for the rest of his life?.

1.. Characteristics of Tric4$e %o5n E*tension 6TDE7 Approach

Before mentioning the characteristics of Tric!le down xtension 5T6 approach, letDs loo!

into the definition of CFisheries xtension4. Fisheries xtension has been defined as a service

or system which assists fish&farmersA fishermen through educational process in improving fishfarming methods and techniques; increasing production efficiency and income and ultimately

improving their levels of living and quality of rural life. The central figure in this effort is the

fish farmers Afishermen and their families. n a wider context extension has to go beyond the

dissemination of new technologies which increase production and productivity and must

concern itself with the overall ob>ectives of development of self&confidence, creating the

awareness of self&prestige and improvement of conditions of rural life; in particular the small

income fish farmers Afishermen. uch an approach calls for a more integrated view of the

problems and a better balance between economic and social ob>ectives 5:umar K :arim,

1--16 K 5%aunder, 1-)6.

Tric!le down ystem 5T6 of 'quaculture xtension is participatory extension which is

based upon the farmer to farmer move incorporating both individual and group extension

approaches. The system ensures practical hand on training to the fish farmers !nown as 7esult

emonstration Fish Farmers 57s6 who underta!e demonstration of improved aquaculture

practice in their own ponds under the close guidance and supervision of the xtension

@fficers. The 7 in turn demonstrates his activities through method and result demonstrations

to the neighboring farmers designated as Fellow Fish Farmers 5FFs6. uring the following

production cycle; FFs graduate to become 7, adopt the technology voluntarily, conduct

1


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similar demonstration and in turn lin! *&1# FFs with them. Thus the !nowledge of improved

technology tric!les down from the xtension @fficers 5@s6 to 7s and ultimately to FFs and

this chain of events continues to follow 5Fig./6.

Fi#. ). Tric4$e %o5n E*tension +(stem

ince it is ensured that FFs are invited to participate as and when method A result

demonstrations and in-situtraining are organied by the 7s at their pond sites the tric!ling

down of !nowledge is purposefully made an active process 5:umar K :arim, 1--)6.

1.8 9e( Components of the +(stem

Fishery xtension @fficer A'gent 5istrict Fisheries @fficersAThana Fisheries

@fficersA'ssistant Fisheries @fficers6;

7esult emonstration Fish Farmers 57s6;

Fellow Fish Farmers 5FFs6;

1+


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ound and appropriate aquaculture technology;

'ppropriate and adequate training for xtension @fficers;

In-situ mosaic training and demonstration support to 7s and FFs ;

Tight and effective monitoring schedule, record !eeping and reporting.

1.: Detai$s of Tric4$e %o5n E*tension +(stem

1.:.1 "asic Desi#n

nder Tric!le own xtension ystem 5T6 , fish farmers are selected on the basis of well

laid criteria and the farming technologies are selected as per their resources, on going

activities, area of interest, financial and technical capabilities etc while negotiating with them,

proper attention is paid to honor their traditional values, belief and their sentiments. The

selected 7s are supported to demonstrate the results of selected fish culture technology in

their own ponds. The complete pac!age of successive practices of the particular aquaculture

technology including the overall production and profit performance are also demonstrated to

*&1# neighboring fish farmers designated as FFs. 'll the FFs are !ept informed about the

successive steps of farming type to be displayed by the 7s and are frequently invited to see

the activitiesAdemonstration. xtension officer is considered to be the functional unit of the

extension service system.

The records of all the activities pertaining to production technology followed, inputs used and

the expenditure incurred are properly maintained by the 7 with the help of extension

personnel in the especially designed record !eeping boo! supplied to them. xtension personnel

ma!e at least two visits a month to the 7s pond to extend necessary guidance and to help carry

on method demonstration whenever organied. The extension personnel properly explains the

7 what is required to be done in the next fortnight to one month and also inserts his advice in

the record boo! !ept with the 7 so that if the 7 forgets the instruction, he is having access to

read it or someone nearby can read for him. uring the next visit, the xtension @fficer reviews

the progress, identifies the problems and suggests the possible solutions. 'll the activities are

1-


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systematically monitored and communicate to the head quarter through their line of authority.

specially designed field diary is given to the extension wor!ers for this purpose. The diary is

submitted to the respective higher authority every month for appraise the on&going activities

and also to receive necessary guidance if required. The higher authority inserts his guidanceA

remar!s in the diary for further course of action. The progress and problems are also

discussed during the scheduled monthly meeting at the district headquater. 3or!shops are

organied at considerable intervals where extension wor!ers and 7s are given opportunity to

exchange and express their views, experience and results to revitalie the system. nder this

theoried system an atmosphere of owners is created among the extension personnel and the

fish farmers and the !nowledge and s!ill of improved fish culture technologies tric!les down

from the 7s to FFs and rest of the farmers in due course.

1.:. Trainin#

Training is one of the core components of this system. 'lthough separate training is organied

for extension personnel, 7s and lin!ed FFs, the system operation itself provides a

continuous learning environment for all the participatory functionaries.

1.:.& E*tension Personne$

nitially short&duration extension orientation program is organied for the extension personnel

to ma!e them understand the program ob>ectives, the system design and its operation which

enables them to proceed to select the 7s, maintain record !eeping boo!, tour diary, reporting

formats etc. ' C9omprehensive xtension Training4 on fish culture for the extension personnel

is organied where field activities are clarified to them through practical exercise. This brings

clarity in their understanding about the pac!age of practices of the selected production

technology and the mechanism of its transfer. 9oncept of fishery extension, communication,

appropriate extension teaching methods and tools, extension program planning etc form partof the comprehensive training. The extension program gets momentum after the

comprehensive extension training. uring the field operation these extension agents are given

guidance and necessary support through periodical visits by the extension experts. @ne

complete year of such an exercise offers ample opportunity for the extension wor!ers to get

grip over the program and gain confidence. 0rowing popularity and respect among the fish

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farming community brings more dedication and confidence in their approach.

1.:.) Res!$t Demonstration Fish Farmers 6RDs7

7s are invited for day long in-situ training preferably at one of the 7s pond site. The

content of the training is directed towards building up of self confidence, self respect,

leadership, managerial capability and fish culture s!ill. tress is given for maintaining the

record !eeping boo! especially designed for the purpose. They are also reminded about their

social and religious responsibility to train *&1# neighboring FFs in fish culture who are going

to be selected at their recommendations. 'ppropriate extension teaching methods and tools

are employed for ma!ing the communication most effective .n this case, pictorial information

on extension and improved method of fish culture were chosen for dissemination.

9onsidering the bac!ground and level of education of 7s and FFs, pictures on differentinformation of extension and improved aquaculture practice has been prepared from the

pro>ect. These pictures were pasted on the plain side of sand papers. The sand papers with

pictures are attached temporarily on velvet clothes and hang from a vertically placed wooden

stand for showing it the audience one after another.

'fter )&/ months of field operations similar day&long training N cum & discussion is again

organied for 7s at one of the demonstration pond site which serves as refresher&cumfollow&up course. Their on&farm problems are discussed and solutions are advised. They are also

trained how to organie and conduct method demonstrations and training for their lin!ed FFs.

9oncerned extension wor!er are given full responsibility and proper direction to organie

such mosaic in-situtraining programs. n no circumstances 7s and FFs training should be

combined; otherwise FFs will give no importance and attention to their 7s as a result 7s

will become ineffective for this program. 0radually he will lose interest and initiative for

further course of action.

1.:. Fe$$o5 Fish Farmers 6FFs7

'fter )&/ months of culture operations when the crop becomes matured enough to be displayed,

7s are encouraged and supported to organie a day&long training program and method

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demonstrations at their pond site for their FFs.3hile conducting the training especially designed

and developed extension materials and tools are used. imple and pictorial instructional manual

on fish culture is distributed among the participants through their respective 7s. uch short

demonstration& cum& training program is usually repeated once in every )&/ months. 't the time

of harvest the crop as well as the economics are properly displayed and explained to all FFs and

other neighboring farmers. This helps FFs to acquaint with the production and profit potential of

the endeavor, arouse interest and also gives them confidence to act as 7 in the subsequent cycle.

%eanwhile the 7 becomes doubly confident recalls his deficiencies and pledges to do much

better in the next production cycle. uch 7s require little care and occasional supervision by

extension wor!ers. @n the other hand, they become more confident and s!illed in their operation

and extend more efficiently his services to his FFs 5converted 7s6 and graduate to becomesenior 7.

1.:. +a$ient Feat!res of Tric4$e %o5n +(stem

Farmers to farmers approach Acontact;

nsures flow of tric!ling down process of !nowledge and s!ill;

9ontinuous learning environment for fish farmers and field officers;

2romotes participatory movement;

t helps fish farmers to develop self&reliance. self&respect and self&confidence;

Ielps in creating large number of s!illed fisheries extension volunteers;

8o Aor least material input assistance;

=ocally applicable aquaculture extension technology tailored according to need and

ability of the fish farmers;

t gives opportunity for fish farmers from different segments to participate.

1.:. "asic 9e( Components !n%er the +(stem

16 election of right type of 7esult emonstration Fish Farmers 57s6 from different

segments of fish farmers;

(6 =in!ing of Fellow Farmers 5FFs6 as per the recommendations of 7s with each 7;

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)6 =ocally applicable aquaculture extension technology tailored according to the

capacity of the fish farmers;

/6 9onducting training for field extension wor!ers;

*6 9onducting training for 7s and their FFs;

"6 Follow up activities;

6 2roper way of recording;

+6 9reating a continuous learning environment for the fish farmers as well as the

extension personnel.

1.10 ;Tric4$e %o5n E*tension Approach< in A'!ac!$t!re De,e$opment

8early all homestead in Bangladesh own a small to medium sie multipurpose domestic

pond. ue to illiteracy, poverty, lac! of access to information etc., rural mass remain ignorant

of the technological developments and still practice the age&old traditional methods of fish

culture in such ponds. There are more than 1." million ponds in the country with an average

production of fishO 1.) tonAhaAyr 5F7, 1--)6 which could easily be raised to over *.*

tonAhaAyr. The existing situation analysis of the relevant facts associated with pond fish culture

in Bangladesh surfaced the following factsH

16 Past population of client group with traditional out loo!s;

(6 lliterate to semi& literate clientele;

)6 'ge&old traditional fish culture technology in practice;

/6 xtremely wea! financial base of the .fish farmers;

*6 9ritically limited number of field personnel with the oF who are yet to be oriented

towards extension function;

"6 Tendency of farmers towards immediate gain in the form of free input and credit

rather than learning the technology and reaping the benefit after practicing the same.

%oreover, there was no definite fisheries extension approach of oF before adopting this

approach in Bangladesh. Iowever, a pro>ect entitled, ?nstitutional strengthening in the

Fisheries ector?5B0A+A#/*6 was >ointly implemented in Bangladesh by 0ovt. of

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Bangladesh 50oB6 and F'@A82. 'mong others the extension component was assigned to

increase the fish production from pond culture through conducting demonstration of

integrated semi&intensive pond fish culture system in private ponds. The extension component

undertoo! fisheries extension activities in 11 out of "/ districts in Bangladesh on a pilot basis.

8atore was one of the districts out of 11 in the country. The author was directly involved and

responsible with the aquaculture extension activities as istrict Fisheries @fficer under the

pro>ect. Four thanas 5lowest administrative unit6 out of " were selected for fisheries extension

activities in 8atore district 5Fig.*6.

The present observations on the efficiency of Tric!le down xtension 5T6 'pproach in

aquaculture development are based upon the observations in 8atore district. t may be consideredas a representative of Bangladesh as the factors li!e socio&economic, agro climatic and techno&

commercial etc are more or less same throughout the country except the hill tract districts.

1.11 Impro,e% =+emi-intensi,e Fish C!$t!re Techno$o#( 6+IF7 Fo$$o5e%

The following steps are followed in improvedA semi&intensive fish culture technology 5F6

especially for profitable carp cultureH

16 The pond is dewatered to !ill or eradicate unwanted or carnivores fish. This also helps

to repair the pond dy!e to save from over flooding during rainy season and ma!es the

pond bottom even for easy netting .@therwise the pond may be poisoned by using

rotenone powder, selphos or quic!phos tablet to eradicate the unwanted carnivores

fish, insects and other carnivores .The pond became ready for stoc!ing of fish

fingerling after ( 5two6 wee!s. ' complete cycle has been shown in Fig.*.

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Fi#. . Impro,e%=semi-intensi,e fish c!$t!re techno$o#( c(c$e

(6 Following after dewatering or poisoning the pond, lime is applied O 2 !g Adecimal to

release micronutrients and !ill unwanted insects and mollus!s and acts to maintain

favorable condition of water 52I".# to .*6 which is most desired for maintaining

better water quality and rapid growth of fish.

)6 'fter 1&( wee!s of lime application, both organic manure such as cow dung, chic!en

litters, compost and inorganic fertiliers such as rea, Triple super phosphate 5T26

and %uriate of potash 5%26 are applied to boost up growth of plan!ton& the ultimatenatural food of cultured fishes.

(*


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/6 3hen water became greenish, bigger sie and healthy fish fingerlings 5&1( cm6 of

cultured species ndian ma>or carp namely; 9atla (C. catla), 7ohu (L. rohita) and

%rigal (C. mrigala)along with three exotic carp namely; ilver carp (H. molitrix).

0rass carp (C. idella)and 9ommon carp (C. carpio)are stoc!ed. orputi5Puntius sp6

is also advised to stoc! in low density. This combination of six species has been found

to utilie the available natural food of all layers of the pond ecosystem.

*6 To remove the obnoxious gases and enhance the fermentation fresh cow dung is

soa!ed with / times of water and !ept for (/ hours in an open place .rea and T2 are

well mixed with this semi& liquid material and again mixed with water before

spreading through out the pond during #-.## to 11.## Irs on sunny days. This

promotes to intensify and maintain a steady growth of plan!ton in the pond.

"6 9onsidering the ability, the farmers are advised to supply the supplementary feed. To

promote rapid growth of fish, supplementary fish feed li!e mustard oil ca!e, rice bran

and wheat bran are applied O(&)$ of body weight of stoc!ed fish fingerling. The

mustard oil ca!e is soa!ed for (/ hours in water and then mixed with rice bran and

wheat bran before apply to the pond. The amount of fish feed is ad>usted with the

increased body weight of cultured fish .0reen grass li!e napier grass, banana leaf,

sweet potato leaf, duc! weed etc are applied to feed the grass carp and supplied in a

feeding tray 5 rectangular bamboo frame6 fixed in one corner of the pond.

6 'fter )&/ months, sampling of fish is done to monitor the growth of fish and record the

weight of different species of fishes to ad>ust the supplementary feed.

+6 3hen the fishes attain table sie 5#.*&1.# !g6, the fishes are sold !eeping a record of

the number of fishes ta!en out.

-6 The same number and same species of healthy fish fingerling are again stoc!ed in the

pond.

1#6 7ac!ing is done very often to eliminate the obnoxious gases from the pond bottom

with a rac!er.

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1.1 Operationa$ >imitations an% ?o%ifications

's mentioned earlier there was no definite extension approach of ept. of Fisheries 5oF6, so

the adopted Tric!le down xtension 'pproach in its implementation phase had the following

limitationsH

1. The 7s, FFs and the xtension 2ersonnel had a tremendous curiosity in the

beginning; but a slow, steady and cautious adoption of the approach was noticed.

(. o many pro>ects A departments in their mode of extension service to the agricultural

farmers had the provision of supplying input credit. o if input assistance could be

introduced in the pro>ect, a better performance is expected but there was no scope to

supply inputs to farmers. This had a limitation in quic!er adoption of the approach.

). The transfer of xtension 2ersonnel from a wor!ing place created limiting negative

effects on the clientele. ubstitute officers in the same place had to understand the

wor!ing atmosphere and the approach because the pro>ect extension activities were

not spread over the country.

/. nitial 7s had a strong tendency towards getting immediate gain in the form of free

inputs and credit rather than learning the technology of fish culture.

*. ome women fish farmers were very much interested to !now the improved fish

culture technology at home but failed repeatedly to attend any training program

organied at village level due to social barrier. %oreover, there was no women

extension wor!er to wor! with the women clientele.

". Farmers sometimes were very reluctant to collect the necessary fish culture inputs li!e

organic manure, quality and bigger in sie fingerlings from ad>acent areas etc.

. xtension personnel had acute transport problem in the early stage of the pro>ect.

3hich if supplied could increase extension activities and outcome.

+. The study was confined in 8atore district in the early stage of the program.

-. Facts and figures collected and presented in this observation by the investigator

applied to the situation prevailing during the years from mid of 1--( to mid of 1--/.

1#. The researcher has to depend on the data as provided by the selected farmers both 7s

and FFs and concerned Thana Fisheries @fficers 5TF@s6.

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The fo$$o5in# mo%ifications 5ere !n%erta4en%!rin# the st!%(@

1. The fish farmers who had at least minimum ability to bear the production expenses

were selected as 7s as there was no scope to supply fish culture inputs under the

pro>ect.

(. 'quaculture technology was tailored according to the capacity&both technical and

economical of fish farmers before put into operation.

). %ore motivational efforts were engaged to change the attitude of the fish farmers;

although it was a difficult proposition as receiving free input is a common expectation

among the fish farmers.

/. xtension personnel were paid actual travel expenses to cover the traveling cost in his

>urisdiction.*. The number of 7s were !ept manageable and under strict control to facilitate close

supervision and assistance as required by the existing concept of aquaculture

extension, a new approach to the field wor!ers of oF.

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(-

CHAPTER-0

REIE3 OF >ITERATURE


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. REIE3 OF >ITERATURE

The success of any extension program depends on the efficiency of extension approaches

employed for attainment of goals. There was no definite approach of extension before

introduction of DTric!le down xtension ystemD in aquaculture development under ept. of

Fisheries 5oF6 in Bangladesh. Tric!le down xtension ystem has been employed for

aquaculture development since --#. valuative research wor! on efficiency of ETric!le down

xtension ystemM should have been due by this time. The purpose of this chapter is to

review literature having relevance to the present study. The researcher made an elaborate

search of available literature having relevance to this investigation.

Before going to further discussion on extension, one must ta!e into consideration the

extension program of epartment of 'griculture xtension 5'F6 in Bangladesh for its

vastness and long experience. The extension program in the ' was started in this part of

the world in 1-1/ with the appointment of istrict =evel 'gricultural @fficer who conducted

demonstration farm in each district. The extension services for the farmerDs improvement did

not go beyond the district level demonstration farm prior to 1-/#. Iowever in 1-*#, (*##

2=' 52rimary =icensing 'gent6 under Lute 7egulation epartment was added with

'gricultural xtension epartment to wor! directly with the farmers. But these field level

wor!ers were mostly grade P level passed, without having any academic bac!ground in

agriculture. uring 1-*#, P&' 5Pillage 'gricultural and ndustrial evelopment6 pro>ect

was made responsible for extension wor!s. Iowever, P&' was discontinued in late 1-*#Ds.

But the realiation of the value of extension education was increased and as such the

irectorate of 'griculture 5xtension and %anagement6 was created in early #Ds !eeping the

irectorate of 'griculture 57esearch and ducation6 separate. This was a true beginning of

extension program to educate farmers for adoption ofD improved crop production practices.

uring the mid seventies realiation of extension services was over&emphasied and thereby

several mono crop extension agencies were created under the %inistry of 'griculture and

other %inistries also organied their own extension services for specialied crop and

management. Iowever the last phase of evolutionary process of extension services that

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records to distinct metamorphosis are; i6 introduction of the TKP system ii6 unification of

mono&crop services into irectorate of 'gricultural xtension 5'6. 5Ialim.1--16.

Iowever, the Training KPisit 5TKP6 system did not wor! as anticipated and promoted single

crop farming. The ' are now wor!ing for 9rop iversification 2rogram 5926 as

expected along with 'griculture upport ervice 2rogram 5'26.

ince 1-"#Ds the country has experienced a chronic food deficiency. he has to spent a lionDs

share 5(#&)#$6 5BB, 1-+-6 of her export earnings to meet the food shortage. To achieve

self&sufficiency in food grain, the then government introduced Iigh Jielding Pariety 5IJP6

of seed & fertilier & irrigation technology, popularly !nown as ?0reen 7evolution? in mid&

sixties which resulted in changes of traditional aus 5paddy6A>ute or aman5paddy6 followed by

rabi based cropping pattern 5926 into boro based 92. Iowever introduction of Flood 9ontrol

rainage and rrigation 5F96 in early -#Ds had accelerated the change. n recent years

boro alone covers (*$ of total rice producing areas 5BB, 1--)6. nder the changed 92 most

parts of flood plains and beels5natural depression6 remain bare of vegetation which allowed

playing of small craft and easy use of gears and destruction of hiding places of fishes.

%oreover surplus agricultural laborers became engaged in fishing for income thus creating

high fishing pressure and less catch per unit 5926. Thus it appeared that the trade offD

between agriculture and fisheries had gone to the advantages of agricultural populations and

to the detriment of the traditional fishermen which deserved serious attention of the planners

and decision ma!ers 5%ondal, 1--/6. This was the onset of emergent need for fisheries

extensions in Bangladesh both in capture and culture fisheries. o after 1-(&), 0overnment

organiation postulated the need for fisheries development through extension services. :arim

51-+6 mentioned that as class fishermen in Bangladesh were very poor. 8o comprehensive

survey of the socio&economic of fishermen had ever been made. nformation about them was

thus rather s!etchy. ome information about the coastal fishermen was available.

n ri =an!a, the 0overnment was in the process of restructuring and evolving an extension

service to suit its decentralied governance and also to answer the changed needs of primary

producers. %aldives was >ust evolving an extension services to cater the needs of its thriving

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fisher fol! communities. %alaysia had already developed a solid fisheries extension service

based on locating technical trained staff at field level and used modified form of Training and

Pisit 5TKP6 ystem. 57ahman K Iaque, 1--16.

Fish farmers, artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen engaged in fish culture, collection of fish

seed from natural sources, fishing in enclosed and open inland and coastal waters, processing

etc are the primary producers of the sector and as such they are the focal ob>ect for sectoral

development and welfare schemes. nli!e agriculture there is mar!ed socio&economical and

functional stratification among the primary producers. Broadly they are divided into small

scale fish farmer belonging to landless, pond less, small and marginal farmer categories, the

artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen engaged in fishing, transport, crude processing and retailmar!eting of fishing products and last group consisting of affluent and well&off aquaculture

entrepreneurs, corporate bodies, trading houses etc. engaged in operating large commercial

farms, mechanied and sophisticated fishing craft, owners of processing plants, whole sellers

of fishery products and exporters 5:umar, 1--)6.

9ole 51-+6 reviewed the role of extension services on the different pattern of operation in the

ndo 2acific Fishery 9ommission 52F96 region. n many countries the fisheries extensionfunction is relatively new but there is an increasing awareness of its value. Ie emphasied the

means and need of bridging the gap between the fishermen and the administrator or research

wor!er. Tiete 51-+(6 mentioned the main purpose of @rissa marine fisheries extension

service was to assist in the technological, economic and social development of traditional

fishing families.

Pasantha!umar et al, 51-++6 reported that improvement in the standard of living of fishing

households and fishing labor households and optimal utiliation of fishery resources for

employment production and export were the important goals of marine fisheries extension

service of Tamil 8adu tate. ndia. Ie gave an account of the extension teaching methods

used for individual contact, group contact and mass contact, the sub>ect matter fields covered

)(


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in extension teaching with their relative importance, the characteristics of extension

personnel, research support provided co&ordination among the various agencies involved and

the participation of the clientele and the organiation.

Tiete 51-+/6 advocated the development of small scale fisheries in outhern 'sia. Ie outlined a C

training and visit4 system that has been widely used in agricultural extension wor! and suggested

how such a system could he applied to fisheries. Ie mentioned that extension wor!ers not only

give technical advice but they attempt to change socio&cultural attitudes that impede development.

Iotta 51-+(6 recommended in his report submitted to F'@ for welfare of ndonesian

fishermen to strengthen fisheries extension service 52ro>ect personal was attached6 a more

vital functioning of fisheries co&operatives in institutional credit coupled with the upgradingof their mar!eting infrastructure and facilitiesH implementation of socio&economic studies

concerning economic impacts rendered by credit programH better co&ordination between the

irectorate 0eneral of Fisheries and co&operative epartment at all levels of administration

and managementH implementation of feasibility studies of B7 prior to the disbursement of

loansH compilation of a manual on lending policiesH pro>ect evaluation and appraisal and

utiliation of agriculture training facilities for fisheries extension officers.

'lam 51--#6 experienced from 80@ 59ommunity evelopment 9entre && 9@96 activities

that i6 participatory approach was a significant output of regular learning process. ii6

2articipatory approach in the field of development was a evolutionary and degree of

development could be measured by degree of participation. iii6 trong support from the

government required to abolish the exploitation of the middlemen as well as to abolish the

fa!e fisher fol! organiations. iv6 0overnment should recognie the non&formal real fisher

fol! organiation already established by different 80@s in Bangladesh.

7oy 51--#6 reported that the success of any program for development of small scale fisheries

and coastal fisher fol! largely depended on the ability of the fisheries extension staff to

communicate and mobilie effectively the fisher fol! communities. ' number of problems

were identified such as lac! of funds, transportation, training and as well as the equipment,

trainers and s!ills for extension and !nowledge transfer for effective extension wor!.

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9ha!roff 51-+16 recommended that aquaculture development largely depended on extension

services that operate at field level and effectively transfer culture technologies to fish farmers.

Ie also mentioned that the organiations and functions of aquaculture extension service vary

from country to country depending upon its political, social and economic goals. 7eferring ten

selected countries experience in establishing aquaculture extension service, he advised to

develop their own systems that would meet their socio&economic goals.

7ao 51-++6 in status report of ndia slated fisheries extension as the wea!est lin! in fisheries

development. Ie reiterated the need of a well organied extension system in the country to

propagate modern fish farming technology to the remote rural areas. 'quaculture xtension

ervices status report of F'@ 51-+(6 in countries around the world has shown that in most casesthere was very little information available or information was too old. 3omenDs involvement in

aquaculture has been reported by harma et al 51--16 as an emerging trend in ndia. They

mentioned of giving incentives by way of economic inputs li!e fish seed, feed, fertilier,

piscicide, breeding !its to ensure fruitful participation in adoption of innovations. The extension

methodology oriented the focus on scientific and technological inputs li!e continuous training,

demonstrations, regular farm visits, performance evaluation and feed bac!. %utambo 51--16

examined the problems involved in the extension of aquaculture in traditional villages in%alawi. 'ccording to him aquaculture is relatively new in the country and requires technical

support from very competent personnel. xtension depends upon effective communication

which is very different in the traditional environments in rural 'frica due to the different social

structures. F'@ 9ommission on Fisheries 51-+16 has adopted four front strategies for

aquaculture development concentrating onH 16 8ational planning development (6 The

establishment of regional research and training centers )6 The identification, formulation and

implementation of demonstration andAor pilot&scale pro>ects, and /6 The preparation and

publication of extension manuals. mphasis will be given to brac!ish water lagoon A estuary

fisheries and to aquaculture extension. harma 51-++6 has given an account of aquaculture

development and fisheries production in 8epal and pointed out training, 2anchayet pond

leasing, infrastructure, fisheries extension and loan as main constraints.

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:umar 51--(6 reported that the most successful system of pond fish culture is the poly culture

of three ndian ma>or 9arp species N 9atla, 7ohu and %rigal along with three 9hinese carps

vi. ilver carp, 0rass carp and 9ommon carp. The best results are obtained through a

>udicious combination of species and appropriate pond management techniques including

pond fertiliation, supplementary feeding, health care and harvest which are often ad>usted

with stoc!ing density, species ratio, fertiliation schedule and supplementary feeding

program. Fish production more than 1# tonAhaAyear has been achieved in ndia. eppert et al

51--#6 reported even higher fish production through applying intensive culture techniques

with regular fertiliing and daily feeding with high quality balanced fish feed, water

exchanges or aeration and monthly harvests. 7ecently the 9entral nstitute of Freshwater

'quaculture 59F'6 under support from ept. of Biotechnology has come forward with an

improved freshwater aquaculture technology with a potential for producing fish over 1*

tonAhaAyear 5:umar. 1--/ 2ersonal communication6. :umar 51--(6 reported of raising fish

together with compatible combination5s6 with poultry, duc!ery, pig rearing and cattle rising.

Fertiliers and supplementary feed are not used resulting in drastic cost reduction. Fish

production obtained from fish Q pig farming, fish Q duc! farming and fish Q poultry farming

were "& tonAha, )&/ tonAha and /&* tonAha respectively with a reasonable amount of animal

production in the form of meat and eggs.

3ith the increase of irrigation facilities, the raising of boro paddy 5776 has also been

increased. o, in most paddy fields it is possible to culture fish with little management and

care. This gives the opportunity to raise two crops; paddy and fish at the same time from the

sameland with little extra fertilier andlabor. 7ice paddy varieties which are disease resistant

and fish species which are hardy, fast growing and survive in low oxygen level are selected

for rearing in rice&fish culture system. This culture technique is becoming popular in

Bangladesh day by day 58F2, 1--/6. 7ecently the culture of fresh water prawn is also being

introduced. 't present, it is being reared with carps either supplying with supplementary feed

or with fertiliing alone. The introduction of semi&intensive or intensive culture techniques

will help to increase production many folds. 9ultures of 2enaeid shrimp in the coastal belt are

the introduction of a gigantic shrimp farming industry in the country which requires most

improvement in the present culture techniques.

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:umar 51--(6 reported that although the worldDs total marine production now stands at more

than +# million tons per year, all trends indicate that a saturation point is quic!ly approaching.

uring the past decade the growth rate hovered around ($ much lower than earlier decades.

t is estimated that 'sian aquaculture production could be raised from present + million to (#&

)# million tons a year by the end of the century. 'quaculture production has increased at an

annual growth rate of nearly $ from 1-*&+/. ue to the pollution of water and over fishing,

the aquatic resources of the coast and near sea have suffered damage to a certain degree. o

marine fishing is becoming high in cost and unprofitable. Freshwater fish culture is a

profitable underta!ing with low investment, quic! result and low cost technology. The meat

production rate of fish culture is the highest among all forms of animal culture. 2roduction in

the water can be done in a vertical way. 'nd the waste of agriculture can he used in fishculture. o, the development of agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry can promote one

another. Because of all these reasons, many countries have gradually directed the course of

their development of fisheries to the development of aquaculture. 5'non. -+6.The author

51--/6 found that aquaculture production technologies are available in the country and

elsewhere which ensure fish production ranges loom *&* tonsAhaAyear against national

average production of 1.) tonsAhaAyear. n shrimp farming, the national average production is

)## !gAha against available technology of producing /&* tonsAhaAyear. Thus a wide extensiongap exists between the technology evolved in the 7esearch nstitutes and the farmers practice

in the country.

The national daily ?The Bangladesh @bserver? in her sub&editorial on /th of Luly, 1--/ has

emphasied about the advantages of Bangladesh to other countries and mentioned that it has a

very broad base of inland freshwater along with a sea&coast which may be used for fish

production. The !nowledge and s!ill needed for pisciculture is already available in the

country. tiliing modern technology and inputs, the upcoming entrepreneurs might have

positive results occurring to the economy as a whole. ' widening fish farming sector will also

provide rewarding >obs to the surplus agricultural labor that now migrate to cities and swell

the slums. To bring !nowledge about semi&intensive fish culture to the maximum number of

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pond operators is the basic strategy of %'2 5--)6. The main instrument is the

establishment of an intensive extension program on ?turn !ey? basis in the pro>ect area to

increase fish production. The pro>ect uses the ?demonstration effect? of successful credit and

demonstration ponds to show the largely un&educated rural target group about proper methods

of pond cultivation. The approach followed by %'2 is to guarantee that all aquaculture

supports will he available in the pro>ect area down to the village and ?Bari? level to provide

the improved pond production systems through s!illed extension wor!ers at the nion and

village level. The extension wor!er is the vehicle through which the pro>ect delivers

technology to the beneficiaries. Through credit, demonstration and contact farmers, semi&

intensive fish culture is demonstrated. 2articipatory on site rather than class room oriented

formal training in various aspects of semi&intensive aquaculture, motivation, gender andawareness raising are underta!en by the training section. 9ontinuous formal and non&formal

training is a ma>or feature of the %'2. The credit is of highly supervised in nature and are

without collateral to ensure that the loans get to pro>ect target group of poor marginal and

landless farmers including women interested in fish culture. nvolvement of women in

aquaculture under %'2 is another promising feature expected to open up a new horion as

an income generating activity especially in homestead pond aquaculture. ' tight monitoring

and evaluation are done on field and financial activities. ' computeried data base has beendeveloped and is used for field and pro>ect level production monitoring.

econd 'quaculture evelopment 2ro>ect in Bangladesh had developed a felt need system of

aquaculture extension in the pro>ect area. The system had the opportunity to utilie the interest

free loan money from 'sian evelopment Ban! 5'B6 to support the contact farmers

supplying with required inputs for fish culture as loan. The pro>ect prefers to select those

farmers who can spend some money to buy needed inputs in cases where&tendered inputs will

arrive late from the pro>ect. The pro>ect employed Fisheries xtension @fficers and root level

Thana Fisheries @fficers of oF to demonstrate improved aquaculture technology to the fish

farmers through method and result demonstration while visiting the pond site. @ccasionally,

neighbor pond ownersA fish farmers are invited to seeA share the methodA result demonstrations.

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ndividual contact followed by group methods is followed for communications. t is expected

that the demonstrated aquaculture technology will automatically tric!le down to other farmers

of the area. The contact farmers4 are changed every year to cover the targeted members of

contact farmers of the pro>ect document. t was realied that the extension officers had to be

s!illed up through training and practical demonstration before assigned with extension >ob in

the field. 2ost evaluation showed that instead of wee!long training arranged for the farmers,

repeated day long training gave better performance and understanding. Iowever, the whole

system or approach is still in a developmental stage. 5'. :. %lihir Bhuiya, 1--/, 2ersonal

communication6.

8orthwest Fisheries xtension 2ro>ectDs 58F26 main activities are poverty focused extensionand training, technology development and brood stoc! management. The pro>ect activities are

confined in five districts; 2anchagarh, Tha!urgaon, ina>pur 8ilphamari and 7angpur of

8orth&west region of Bangladesh. The extension and monitoring team select the targeted poor

farmers by a poverty ran!ing method with an average income for farmers entering the pro>ect

of about Ta!a )## annually for an average household of six members. The selected extension

messages are offered to farmers through classroom and pond site training and by using ponds

as centers for demonstration and rallies. 2ro>ect has the provision to provide credit in the formof inputs. The extension officers and wor!ers help to disseminate the better technology on

aquaculture in farmers level developed in the pro>ect. The pro>ect gives special emphasis to

use fry traders as an extension agents in aquaculture 5%eherul, 2ersonal communication,

1--/6.

'bed 51--16 stated that development of the poor is the prime concern of the 80@s and their

focus being on poverty. 80@s wor! predominantly with social ob>ectives, empowerment of

the poor, emancipation of women, removal of social pre>udices and so on. ducation and

consciousness, therefore, figure out prominently in a 80@ activity. o, raising the

consciousness of the target people has been a ma>or goal of the education and development

interventions designed by the 80@s. 80@s firmly believe that adoption of innovation which

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is the goal of any extension program, cannot ta!e place unless the capacity of the receivers is

properly developed. 80@s program are targeted to the poor & landless, small farmers,

fishermen artisans & both men and women.

'hmed 51--#6 mentioned wor!ing experience with B7'9, one of the largest 80@ in

Bangladesh that B7'9 strives for achieving two broad goals; alleviation of poverty and

empowerment of the poor offer a full scale extension service including credit Ainputs,

technology and formal and non&formal training to clients.

The name of the game of extension as with other helping professions is interacting with

people. Few professions require as much ability to accurately read people as do extension.

0ood extension is carried out with and in and through people 5%arsh, 1-6. Ie further added

that the agents need to involve people, needs to help people, ma!e behavioral changes in

themselves and bring about the adoption of change by a wider group of people through

wor!ing with them directly. This amount of peoples contact and involvement adds up to a

need to understand self and others and what goes on between them. These functions of

extension could be achieved only ifD the extension wor!ers are well equipped with recent and

new s!ills, !nowledge and practices through an improved andcontinuous training program.

7esearch findings accept the tric!le down or diffusion process which is continually going on

within the farming community. deas diffuse from the innovators through the early adopters to

the early minority and then tric!le down to the late ma>ority and laggards. t is this diffusion

process which advisory wor! 5extension6 see!s to initiate and accelerate. To be fully effective

advisory wor! must he capable of responding to and meeting the differing needs of the

different !inds of farmers ma!ing up the industry. 5'non, l-+-6. 'ny extension approach has

to he analyed both in its macro and micro environment. But the effect and contributions of

different environmental dimensions on the performance of agricultural extension has beenstudied 57ahman and %ahboob, 1-"; %ridha and Iaque, 1-*; 0ross, 1-; ey, 1-+*; and

Iouse, 1-+16 but the results are conflicting. 9lient character, both at individual and system

level did not have significant influences on the performance of extension programs and

organiations under different socio&economic conditions. n extension, people often are

blamed for not changing from the traditional belief and farming practices. 9howdhury 51-+#6

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questioned; is this due to peopleDs resistance to change or the ineffectiveness of the extension

service to ma!e them changeR o people really resist changeR ome do, but others do not.

%ost frequently wanson et al. 51-+/6 suggested that not only should agricultural extension

be client& oriented, but the technological and related needs of these different client groups

must be identified and solved. 3orld Ban! officials identified 5a6 appropriate technology 5b6

attractive mar!ets and 5c6 available inputs as the critical ingredients for successful

development 57ussel, 1-+16. xtension effectiveness will be dependent upon those

ingredients which are outside its direct control.

'xinn and Thorat 51-(6 pointed out that the extent to which the goals of an agricultural

extension program will he achieved tend to be directly related to the extent to which those,

toward whom the program is directed, have participated in establishing the goals.

7esearch conducted by 7ogers 51-+)6 indicated that extensions effectiveness was directly

related to the number of contacts made by extension wor!ers with given individuals, as well

as the approach used by the wor!er. Ie also revealed that the use of demonstrations was an

excellent technique to build trust and to gain acceptance of information. 9onsequently,

mobility is essential for contacting clients frequently and carrying out field wor!.

@a!ley et al. 51-+*6 recommended that wherever possible ob>ectives of extension should be

expressed in terms of amounts and numbers rather than general statements. @a!lay et al.

51-+*6 advocated evaluating the effect of extension on agricultural production, family

incomes and standards of living. Ie further added that evaluation and farm income for a

representation sample of farm families and then comparing the figures with previous levels.

upe 51-+)6 recommended the devices to measure the progress towards the educational

ob>ectives of extension which wereH a6 value scales b6 altitude scales c6 opinion polls d6

!nowledge and comprehension tests e6 interest chec!s 6 s!ill or performance g6 adoption of

practices h6 case history techniques.

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:umar 51--)6 mentioned that the Tric!le down ystem of 'quaculture xtension had

provided opportunity for fish farmers to act as extension volunteer on behalf of oF. Ie

experienced that farmers were willing to wor! as volunteer extension agent on behalf of

epartment of Fisheries 5oF6. They en>oyed organiing demonstration and training for their

Fellow Fish Farmers 5FFs6 and maintain lin!age with the 0overnment offices and officers.

The main factors responsible for generating such an instant interest was the respect they

received in their society and the production and profit they en>oyed. 'ppreciation was another

tool for motivating them. The half dollar worth of medal which was awarded to the 7

wor!ed as magic potion.

:umar et al 51--)6 wor!ed out the salient features of Tric!le own ystem of xtension asHa6 Farmers to farmers approach A contact b6 nsures flow of tric!ling down process of

!nowledge and s!ill c6 9ontinuous learning environment for fish farmers and Field officers d6

2romotes participatory movement e6 Ielps fish fanner to develop self reliance ,self&respect

and self&confidence 6 Ielps in creating large number of s!illed fisheries extension volunteers

g6 8oA or least material input assistance t6 =ocally applicable aquaculture extension

technology tailored according to need and ability of the fish farmers h6 t gives opportunity

for fish farmers from different segments to participate. They also recommended for thedevelopment of self&reliance, self&respect and self&confidence of clients through a6 Field

oriented training program b6 Field related wor!shop and seminar 96 'ssigning responsibility

d6 9lose supervision encouragement and time to time appreciation by supervisory officers e6

7ewarding and recognition to the best wor!er A officer A farmers t6 oing by self g6 tart

wor!ing with what you have i6 trengthens collective action for implementation of their own

program and building up problem solving capacity.

8atore district was selected for the transfer of semi&intensive aquaculture technology through

DTric!le down xtension 'pproachD. %icro level studies of T approach involved various

components of performance in the light of technology adoption and response by the involved

clients and the associated field wor!ers. 0ilbert et al. 51-+#6 identified problems facing

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technology development, adaptation and transfer into four ma>or groupsH a6 =ac! of

!nowledge and understanding of farming systems. b6 nsufficient feedbac! from farmers to

research program c6 nsufficient understanding of the environment within which farmers wor!

and6 lac! of mechanisms for testing and adapting technology on farmers fields. %orrison et

al. 51-+/6 reported that many technologies designed for agriculture were basically

inappropriate for a large segment of the clientele and that the solution lies in the design of

appropriate technology which is appropriate for the resource poor farmer. wanson et at.

51-+/6 reported that extensio

Documents

4. Full Thesis