Constraints and Perceived Scope for Practicing Small Scale Aquaculture in Thakurgaon District, Bangladesh

The aims of the study were to determine the extent of constraints as faced by the farmers engaged in small scale aquaculture, to explore the relationships of selected characteristics of fish farmers with their faced constraints, and to explore the perceived scope of small scale aquaculture. The study was conducted in Ranisonkail upazila under Thakurgaon district of Bangladesh. A sample of 92 fish farmers were selected from a list of 276 fish farmers using multi-stage random sampling method. Necessary data were collected by a structured interview schedule during 1st March to 30th April 2014. A constraint facing index (CFI) for each constraint was developed to compare among the constraint items. 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. Majority (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. Scored Causal Diagrams (SCDs) explored that the main root causes of „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‟. 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‟.