IMPACTS OF INTEGRATED RICE-PRAWN-FISH CULTURE TECHNOLOGIES ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL FARMERS

Abstract

Rice-prawn/fish culture practice has been established in southern parts of Bangladesh since 1990’s, but very new in North-central region. This study was conducted with a view to describe the impacts of rice-prawn-mola-carp polyculture technology on the livelihoods of poor and marginal farmers of Gouripur Upazila in Mymensingh district, based on sustainable livelihoods framework. Freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) also called small indigenous fish species (SIS) are important fisheries resources of Bangladesh. These species were introduced in rice-fish culture system of 15 farmers in the study areas. Socio-economic data were collected after completion of the experiment. Almost all the prawn farming households reported that the introduction of rice-prawn/fish culture technology ensured regular supply of SIS and large fish for home consumption, which played an important role in combating protein and micronutrient deficiency for poor, marginal and sub-marginal rural households. Another aspect of rice-prawn/fish culture technology was that it provided rapid return of investment by selling of freshwater prawn/fish and created opportunities for household savings.