PERCEIVED EFFECT OF AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGIES BY THE FISH FARMERS IN NORTHERN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine extent of perceived effect of aquaculture technologies of fish farmers and to explore the relationship between ten selected characteristics of the fish farmers with their perceived effect. The problems faced by the fish farmers in aquaculture have also been identified. Data were collected from a sample of 88 fish farmers (out of 350) selected by multi-stage random sampling procedure from Madhupur union of Badargang upazila under Rangpur district. A pretested structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents during 15 October to 15 November, 2017. Overwhelming majority (80 percent) of the fish farmers belonged to low perceived effect of aquaculture technologies status while 8.0 percent of them had medium status of perceived effect of aquaculture technologies and a negligible proportion (1.1 percent) had high perceived effect of aquaculture technologies status. The 1st ranked of perceived effect of aquaculture technologies of fish farmers on ‘Silver, Rui and Common carp culture’ (PEATI =137) and the 2nd ranked is ‘Silver and Rui culture’ (PEATI =127). Correlation analyses indicated that among ten selected characteristics training received, organizational participation, extension media contact, knowledge on aquaculture, and farmers’ attitude towards aquaculture had positive significant relationships with their perceived effect of aquaculture technologies. However, age, education, family size, farm size, and annual family income of the farmers had no significant relationships with their perceived effect of aquaculture technologies. The highest problem faced by the fish farmers in aquaculture was found on ‘High cost of fish feed’ (PFI =248) and lowest proportion of fish farmers faced problems on ‘Problem of over flooded’ (PFI =123). The foremost (47.72 percent) suggestion cited by the fish farmers was ‘Arrangement of more training programme on fish farmer’s level’. ‘Need available extension service’ (21.59 percent) was suggested by the fish farmers as the last suggestion.