Aqua-Ecosystem Analysis of Pen Culture Technology in Flood-Plain Wetlands

摘要

The pen culture technology has acclaimed its recognitions as one of the components under rural developed program of the country. Pen culture operations in the flood plain wetlands have been observed to be associated with cluster of problems. The problems are generated by the inevitable and ubiquitous link between management practices and the ecology of the system. The on-farm research on pen culture of fish and prawn carried out in three flood-plain wetlands, namely, Amda beel, Suguna and Mathura beel of West Bengal for 2 years consecutively, has revealed the biophysical and socio-economic causes. These problems that were identified as determinant factors for success of pen culture technology. Little fluctuation in the physico-chemical parameters inwater quality causes heavy mortality in prawns. During the floods, water level of the wetlands become too deep to install pens, too low a depth like less than 1 meter leads to thermal stress to the stocked fish and prawn during summer months hampering the production. Rate of stocking and desired size of seed showed great impact in the production. Sex of stocked prawn plays determinant role in production in pens. Escaper of fish and prawns from the pens open affects the production. Fish and prawn healthmanagement and nutritious feed in pens are important for desired production. With the limited fund available to the society the members do not intend to take risk in high investment. The farmers are reluctant in adopting scientific innovations. Being ignorant with the scientific knowledge about the technology most of the co-operative societies also do not take any interestto adoptthem. The difference of opinion also hampers the production in pen. Thus for diffusion of the technology it should be tailored according different biophysical, socio-economic and culture situation.