Homestead fish ponds bringing food diversity to households: Study

Protein and other nutrients consumption of the households has increased driven by fish farming in homestead ponds, according to a research report.

The report finds that alongside meeting consumption needs, fish farming has also contributed to some family income.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) research fellow Dr Badrun Nessa Ahmed revealed the findings of the study titled “The role of homestead fish ponds for household nutrition security in Bangladesh” on Thursday.

The homestead fish ponds are playing a vital role in food diversification in household level, according to the study.

It said food consumption expenditure increased by Tk 252 and calorie intake by 24 calories after bringing such ponds under fish cultivation.

There is a growing demand for fish in Bangladesh, which has boosted per capita fish intake by 58 per cent over the past 15 years, however, 43 per cent of total fish come from household fish ponds.

The study report adds that 70 per cent of the total fish produced in the country come from aquaculture; however, marine fish contribute 10 per cent and fish from free wetland 30 per cent to total protein consumption.

In 2000, free wetlands contributed 42 per cent of total consumption. Day by day the country has become heavily dependent on fish farming.

As per the research, there are five types of aquaculture production system in Bangladesh while homestead fish farming is one of them and the rest are commercial pond aquaculture, commercial aquaculture in gher (enclosure) and commercial aquaculture in beel and rice-fish culture.

BIDS Director General Dr Binayak Sen chaired the event dedicated to the launch of the study report.

In his address, Binayak said: “Size and ownership of the pond is important. How the ownership as well as the size of such pond affects fish farming needs to be understand clearly by conducting further research.