Community based shrimp culture in south west region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Community based shrimp aquaculture in Southwest region of Bangladesh was investigated through this thesis. The objectives of the study were to understand present profiles of the farmers and institutions involving incommunity based shrimp culture and to identify the strengths, weakness, threats and opportunity of community based shrimp culture in order to explore the policy implications as an alternative approach.Data were gathered from four communities in southwest region of Bangladesh through participant observations; structured interviews; focus group discussions; and key informant interviews.Sampling was done by using the snowball sampling technique.Profile of individual farmer’s showed that community C (Jolma) had more experienced and educated person. 38.64% of the shrimp farmers used own lands while 37.49% of farmers used state owned lands. No female farmer was found in any of four community.Profiles of four communities association showed that every association had an effective EC committee significantly contributed to the decision making policy.A SWOT analysis proved the feasibility of existing community based shrimp culture.Weakness analysis showed that medium or low level of efforts were requiredto convert its weaknesses into strengths. Weakness like ‘gender issues’ and ‘connected water bodies’ were required high efforts to convert into strengths. Threat analysis shows that most of the identified threats fell in the category of high impact with a high ability to react. To address such threats, the system needed to develop a contingency plan. This thesis recognized community based culture and management as an alternative approach to commercial culture. Tactical direction was identified by considering social-ecological systems within which shrimp farming can be practiced as a community-based operation. The desired future position of the sector should have a high level of dependency on community association.