Socioeconomic Impact and Farmers' Assessment of Nile Tilapia ('Oreochromis niloticus') Culture in Bangladesh

摘要

Bangladesh has a large number of unused or underused seasonal bodies of water -- ponds, ditches, roadside canals, and borrow pits -- which could be used for farming tilapia. This socioeconomic study, conducted in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, found that ponds of 169 sq. meters yielded an average 23.6 kg of fish, an amount equivalent to the national annual consumption of a six-member, low-income rural household. Of the total yield, 70% was consumed by the families themselves, improving their nutritional status. Revenue from 28% of the fish and fingerlings sold was enough to meet operational costs, demonstrating the sustainability of tilapia culture, while a 343% return on investment verified its economic viability. Moreover, the tilapia culture technology is simple, requiring minimal labor inputs. Step-by-step instructions for the cultivation of tilapia are included.