AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF TILAPIA-CARP-PUNGAS POLYCULTURE FARMING ACCORDING TO POND SIZE CATEGORY

Abstract

The present study was carried out to analyse the costs and returns from tilapia farming in polyculture. Total tilapia fish farmers in the three upazila were around 150-200 according to the reports of upazila fisheries officer (2017). For the research purpose of the study a total of 75 fish farmers were randomly selected from three upazila (Dinajpur Sadar, Birgonj and Birampur) of Dinajpur district. Based on the size, the ponds of these areas were classified into three categories such as small, medium and large size pond categories. The culture period was April to September 2017. For the collection of data, a questionnaire was prepared and pre tested before going to the final survey. The average pond size of three categories of pond was 0.228±0.30 ha. The average stocking densities was in large, medium and small pond was 29,149.06±3441.73; 29,013.48±7029.39 and 29,742.61±3322.96 no. per crop, respectively. The average variable cost was BDT 245,602.74 per ha and fixed cost was BDT 228,364.53 per ha. The average total cost was BDT 686,254.09 per ha in three categories pond. The average stocking costs, feed costs and labour costs (per ha) were 19%, 54%, and 23% of total costs. The average production of all fish was 15,038.77±962.71 kg per ha. The highest fish production was found 16,871.52±923.79 kg per ha in large size ponds, 15,732.51±1071.98 kg per ha in medium size ponds and 12,512.27±892.35 kg per ha in small size ponds. The study also revealed that per hectare average gross income and net income were BD Tk. 1,132,646.04 and BD Tk. 904,283.51 per ha, respectively. The highest BCR value was 2.52 in large size ponds followed by 2.46 and 2.04 in medium size ponds and in small size ponds, respectively. So the findings of this study concluded that large size pond owners are getting more profit compared to medium and small size pond categories.