CONSTRAINTS AND PERCEIVED SCOPE FOR PRACTICING SMALL SCALE AQUACULTURE

Abstract

The research was undertaken to determine the extent of constraints as faced by the farmers engaged in small scale aquaculture, to explore the relationships of selected characteristics (independent variables) with constraints for practicing small scale aquaculture (dependent variable) and to find out the perceived scope for practicing small scale aquaculture. The independent variables were age, educational qualification, family size, farm size, area under aquaculture, knowledge of aquaculture, training received, annual income, income from aquaculture, extension media contact and organizational participation. The study was conducted in Ranisonkail upazila under Thakurgaon district. Ninety two (92) respondents were selected as sample from a list of 276 farmers using multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected by a pre-tested interview schedule during 1‘ March to 30" April 2014. Among the total 19 constraints “unavailability of fish fries in proper time” occupied the highest (CFI= 229) score and stood top in the ranking while “disturbance from otter and predatory birds” had the lowest (CFI= 74) score. Slightly around three-fourths (72.8 percent) of the respondents had medium constraints, 18.5 percent had low constraints and 8.7 percent had high constraints for practicing small scale aquaculture. Majority farmers had faced medivm constraints level in terms of general constraints, fish-culture constraints and postharvest culture constraints. Scored Causal Diagrams (SCDs) explored that the main root causes to ‘low practicing small scale aquaculture’ identified were ‘unavailability of fish fries in proper time’; ‘lack of training and education’ and ‘rigid rules for getting credit’ with score of 20, 20 and 11, respectively. Among the eleven selected characteristics of the farmer’s farm size, area under aquaculture, knowledge of aquaculture, training received and extension media contact showed significantly negative relationship with the constraints. On the other hand age, educational qualification, family size, annual family income, income from aquaculture and organizational participation of the respondents did not show any significant relationship with their constraints. Main scope for practicing small scale aquaculture as mentioned by the respondents ‘small scale aquaculture is profitable’ followed by ‘nutritional requirement’ with PIS of 262 and 256 respectively.