STUDY ON THE AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES IN FENCHUGONJ UPAZILA UNDER SYLHET DISTRICT

Abstract

In order to determine the aquaculture activities in Fenchuganj upazila under Sylhet district, a questionnaire survey was used in the entire upazila. For this purpose, data were collected from 50 farm owners/managers and 50 general people living near the farms, covering all the unions of the Fenchuganj upazila under Sylhet district for a period of six months from July 2014 to December 2014. A tabular method of analysis was followed in analyzing the collected information. The present study indicated that most of the farms (50%) were established within 2001-2010 and majorities were converted from unused land (4%), low land (30%), agricultural land (26%) and wet land (44%). Twelve different fish species were found to be cultured in these farms. Among the all fishes Labeo rohita (94%) and Oreochromis mossambicus (96%) are mostly cultured in this area. Various fertilizers, feeds, nutrients, chemicals and antibiotics were commonly used. Some of the farms exchanged farm waters and wastewaters were thrown into the surrounding area of the farm, e.g., canal, haor (beel), river etc. It is evident that farmed fishes were usually escaped into the natural environment around the farms. Inadequate measures were taken for highly infected or dead fishes. It appears that average total fish productions were 33.5, 34.5, 36, 39.5 and 44.5 ton/year in the year of 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. The study showed that the incomes of the farm owners were increased after establishing the farms.