ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To begin with, credit goes to the Almighty who has given me the strength to
complete this report. The author expresses his deep sense of gratitude and
profound regard to his honourable teachers Dr. Tanjeena Zaman, Ayesha Mim
and Taiyba Laboni, Rajshahi Institute of Biosciences affiliated with University of
Rajshahi. Their scholastic guidance, valuable suggestions, encouragement,
constructive criticisms and overall supervision helped the author in successful
completion of this research work.

The author wishes to render his deep regards to all the respectful teachers of
the Department of Fisheries, Rajshahi Institute of Biosciences affiliated with
University of Rajshahi for their invaluable suggestion, constant inspiration and
various help during the progress of the whole work.

The author is ever grateful to his respected and beloved parents for their moral
and constant blessing, good, encouragement and also financial help during this
research work.Last but not the least, the author is highly indebted to Md. Roni
Miah, fish farmer in Godagari upazila.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Topics: Page No.

Acknowledgements 1

Contents and List of Tables 2-3

Abstract and Chapter One : Introduction 4-6

Chapter Two : Objectives 7

Chapter Three : Materials and Methods 8-13

3.1. Study area 8

3.2. Selection of pond 8

3.3. Information needed for the study pond 9

3.4. Pond management 9-10

3.4.1. Pre-stocking management 9

3.4.2. Stocking management 10

3.4.3. Post-stocking management 10

3.5. Production 11

3.6. Cost-benefit analysis 11

3.7. Methods 11-12

3.8. Materials used 13

Chapter Four : Results 14-23

4.1. Pre-stocking management 14-15

4.2. Stocking management 16

4.3. Post-stocking management 17-19

4.4. Production 20-22

4.5. Cost-benefit analysis 23

Chapter Five : Discussion 24-28

Chapter Six : Conclusion and Recommendation 29-30

References 31
 LIST OF TABLES:

SL no. Title of the Table Page no.

01 Information of the study 14

pond

02 The fertilizer used, their 15

application rate and
method in the study pond

03 The name, major niche and 16

origin of the species
cultured in the study pond

04 The stocking density of the 17

cultured species in the study
pond

05 Fertilizer type, their rate 18

and application method
during post stocking
management in the study
pond

06 The application of 21
supplementary feeds

07 The production of different 21

fishes in the study pond

09 The analysis of cost-benefit 22

in the study pond (cost)

10 The analysis of cost-benefit 23

in the study pond (benefit)
 ABSTRACT

A six-month study (November 2024 to April 2025) on Aquaculture Practice

Experience (APE) was conducted in Godagari Upazila, Rajshahi District. The
research aimed to exchange knowledge about modern aquaculture
technologies with farmers and evaluate the culture practices, production, cost,
and benefits of the studied pond.

The rectangular pond had an area of 160 decimals, a depth of 5-6 feet, sandy
loamy soil, and greenish water. The farmer implemented management practices
in pre-stocking, stocking, and post-stocking stages. Aquatic weeds were
manually removed during the pre-stocking period, followed by the application
of lime and fertilizer to boost productivity.

Stocking included four native fish species (Rui, Catla, Carpio, Mrigal) and two
exotic species (Silver carp, Tilapia), distributed according to water layer. The
final production was 20.87 kg/decimal/6 months, with a cost-benefit ratio (CBR)
of 1:0.45 TK, indicating a return of 0.45 TK for every 1 TK invested.
 1.​ Introduction:

Bangladesh, a nation sculpted by its intricate network of rivers and water

bodies, possesses an unparalleled aquatic endowment. This vast resource,
encompassing approximately 4,700,795 hectares of closed water bodies,
includes 372,397 hectares of ponds and ditches, 5,488 hectares of oxbow lakes,
275,583 hectares of shrimp farms, 114,161 hectares of beels, 68,800 hectares of
Kaptai Lake, and 2,691,910 hectares of floodplains (Jatiyo Motsho Soptaho
Sangkalon, 2023). This aquatic wealth supports a remarkable biodiversity,
featuring 260 freshwater fish species, 24 prawn species in inland waters, 475
marine fish species, 36 marine shrimp species, and 12 introduced exotic fish
species (DoF, 2023). However, the natural productivity of these resources is
increasingly strained by the dual pressures of climate change and rapid
population growth, necessitating a strategic shift towards enhanced
aquaculture practices to ensure sustainable food security.

The fisheries sector is a vital artery of the Bangladesh economy, contributing

significantly to national development and societal well-being. It accounts for a
substantial 4.04% of total export earnings, 3.65% of the national GDP, and a
commanding 23.81% of total agricultural production (Bangladesh Economic
Review, 2023). This sector is the lifeblood of approximately 18.2 million people,
directly or indirectly, underscoring its pivotal role in sustaining rural livelihoods
and fostering economic resilience. In the fiscal year 2014-2015, the sector
generated export earnings of Tk 4660.60 crore through the export of 83,524
metric tons of fish, showcasing its significant contribution to the nation's foreign
exchange reserves.

Fish is not merely a food source in Bangladesh; it is a cultural staple and a

critical source of high-quality protein.
It contains all ten essential amino acids in proportions ideal for human nutrition,
making it an indispensable part of a balanced diet. Its affordability makes it
particularly crucial for a nation striving to combat malnutrition and improve
overall health standards. Unlike red meat, fish protein is considered
cholesterol-free, making it a healthier dietary choice, especially in an era
marked by increasing concerns about cardiovascular health. According to FAO
(1991) data, fish comprises 72% water, 19% protein, 8% fat, 10.5% calcium, 25%
phosphorus, and 1% vitamins A, D, B, and C. Crucially, fish is a rich source of
omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development, cognitive
function, and cardiovascular health.

Given the escalating importance of aquaculture in meeting the nation’s

burgeoning protein demands, a thorough understanding of current fish culture
practices is paramount. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of
fish culture systems and management practices in ponds within the Godagari
Upazila of Rajshahi district. By examining the cost-benefit dynamics of different
culture methods, the study seeks to offer practical insights into rural
aquaculture practices and identify areas for improvement.

The Department of Fisheries at Rajshahi Institute of Biosciences recognizes the

critical role of experiential learning in shaping future fisheries professionals. To
equip B.Sc. Fisheries (Hons.) students of Level-4, Semester-8 with the necessary
practical skills and knowledge, field studies are integrated into the curriculum.
This study, conducted in Godagari Upazila, serves as a vital component of this
practical training, allowing students to observe and analyze real-world
aquaculture operations. The findings of this study will not only enhance the
students' understanding of rural aquaculture but also contribute to the broader
knowledge base on sustainable aquaculture practices in Bangladesh. By
documenting the existing practices, challenges, and successes, this research
paves the way for future advancements in fish culture techniques, ultimately
benefiting the livelihoods of countless rural communities and bolstering the
nation’s food security. This study will provide critical data on the success and
challenges of current aquaculture practices in the region, including information
on which species are most successfully farmed in the area, and what methods
are being used to combat diseases.
 2. OBJECTIVES :

This study aims to collect and share information with farmers about their
aquaculture practices in Godagari Upazila, Rajshahi District. The objectives are
to:

●​ Understand different management practices in the area

●​ Estimate overall production costs and profitability in fish culture
●​ Analyze the biodiversity of the study pond
●​ Measure different physical and biological parameters of the pond
●​ Gain practical knowledge about fish culture
●​ Identify major constraints in fish culture species
 3. Materials and Methods :
3.1 Study area :
The study titled 'Aquaculture practice experience' was carried out from
November 2024 to April 2025 in Godagari, Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. The
location can be found in Plate 1.

Plate-1: Map of Godagari upazila.

3.2 Selection of Pond:

Data collection or observation on the aquaculture under different management
practices was emphasized more than that of other aspects during the study
period. Therefore, a single pond practicing carp polyculture with tilapia was
selected for this research.

Study Period:
The present study was conducted for a period of six months from November,
2024 to April, 2025.
3.3. Information of the study pond

Information is the base of any field work. The main objectives of the present
study are to collect and share information with the farmer about his
aquaculture practice experience. To fulfill this purpose different information
about pond management practice needs to be collected for the present study.
Besides this, emphasis is also given on different physical, chemical and
biological factors of the study pond.

3.4. Pond Management

Following information on pond management (pre-stocking, stocking and

post-stocking) were taken:

3.4.1 Pre-stocking management :

Pre-stocking management included the information of management steps

followed by the fish farmer before stocking the fish species in this study pond
which are as follows-

a)​ Pond selection

This includes the information about the pond collecting process followed by the
fish farmer of the study pond of the selected village Godagari, Rajshahi.
b)​ Bottom and dyke repair
This includes the information about necessary steps followed by the respondent
to repair the dyke and bottom of the selected pond.
c)​ Removal of predatory and unwanted fish
This includes information about management steps followed by the pond farmer
to remove predatory and unwanted fish species from their pond.
d)​ Liming
Liming data includes the information about the application rate and method of
applied lime in the study pond by the pond operator during pond preparation.
e)​ Fertilization
This includes the types, doses and application method of fertilizers used by the
farmer during pond preparation
3.4.2. Stocking management :
Stocking management included the information about management steps
followed by the function during stocking of fish species in the study pond. These
include:

a)​ Selection of fish species

This data includes the information about selection criteria of culture species by
the farmer.
b)​ Collection and transportation of seeds
Seed collection data includes the information about the sources of stocked fish
seed and the method of transportation of live seeds followed by the farmer of
the study pond.
c)​ Stocking density
Data includes the stocking rate, ration (%) and size (g) of the stocked fish seeds
in the study pond.
d)​ Release of seeds
This information consists of the stocking density, stocking time and method of
releasing seed followed by the farmer of the study pond.

3.4.3. Post stocking management :

The information about management practices followed by the pond operator
after stocking the fish species in the pond refers to the post stocking
management. These data include:

a)​ Pond monitoring

This includes the information of status and steps of pond monitoring after these.
b)​ Liming
This includes the information about the application rate, application technique
and time interval of liming by the farmer after stocking cultured species in the
study pond.
c)​ Fertilization
This includes the types, doses and application technique of fertilizers used in the
study pond by the farmer after stocking fish.
d)​ Feeding
Feeding data induces information about the types of supplementary feed,
application rate and application form practiced by the farmer after stocking the
cultured species in the study pond.
 e)​ Sampling
Data on sampling includes information of sampling status (sampling time and
purposes) in the study pond.
f)​ Harvesting
This includes the information about the types, procedures and purposes of
harvesting pursued by the pond farmer in the study pond.
g)​ Marketing
Data includes the information of the marketing time, fish market and transport
by farmers.

3.5. Production
Mean initial weight and mean final weight of cultured fishes were taken using a
digital balance.

3.6. Cost-benefit analysis

The cost (including fixed and variable costs) and the total income from fish
production were calculated. Finally, total benefit and cost benefit ratio were
calculated using the following formula:
Benefit = Total income – Total cost
Cost-benefit ratio (CBR) = Cost : Benefit

3.7. Working methods

The following methodologies were used during data collection :

a)​ Survey :
Surveys were conducted for gathering available information about the ponds,
fish species, aquaculture technology and aquaculture practices.

b)​ Questionnaire (Interviews) :

Interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. Interviews were
conducted in Bengali and then the information was translated into English.
Part-I
INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDY AREA,FISH FARMER AND OWNERSHIP
PATTERN :

❖​ Pond location and address

❖​ Name and address of pond operator
❖​ Information about the selected cultured pond
❖​ Pond area, shape and depth
❖​ Pond dike condition
❖​ Pond ownership
a)​ Own b) Lease

If lease, how many years you take the lease and how much money is exchanged
for lease from the lease holder?

Part-II
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POND MANAGEMENT:
Pre-stocking management :
a)​ Do you repair ponds dyke and bottom
1.​ Yes ​ 2. No
b)​ Do you control aquatic weeds?
1.​ Yes 2. No
If yes, what are the methods you apply for this? ​
c) Do you remove predatory and unwanted fish?
1.​ Yes 2. No
If yes, what are the methods you apply for this?
d) Do you apply lime and fertilize in your pond?
1.​ Yes ​ 2. No
If yes, information about liming and fertilization
i) Type ii) Application rate & method ​ iii) Time

Part-III
Stocking management
a)​ What are species selected for culture and what are the sources of them?
b)​ How do you transport them?
c)​ What is the stocking density rate and ratio of the species?
d)​ When and how do you release fish seed?
Part-IV
Post-stocking management
a)​ Do you monitor your pond?
1.​ Yes ​ 2. No
b) Do you apply fertilizer in the pond after stocking?
1.​ Yes ​ 2. No
If yes, information about fertilizer
i) Type ii) Application rate iii) Application method
c) Do you use supplementary feed in your pond?
i) Name ​ ii) application rate ​ iii) application method ​ iv) Time
d) Do you harvest partially and restock fish seed in a certain time interval?
e) How many time intervals do you take effort for final harvesting?

Part-V
a)​ What are the problems that you face during the culture period?
b)​ How do you solve these problems?
c)​ Do you follow any recommendation or guidance from any organization?

Direct observation
➔​ Shape of the pond
➔​ Dyke condition of the pond
➔​ Presence or absence of aquatic vegetation
➔​ Color of the water
➔​ Fish species used for culture
➔​ Presence or absence of inlet and outlet etc.

3.8. Materials
The following materials were used during data collection:
➢​ Notebook ​
➢​ Digital camera
➢​ Art paper
➢​ Questionnaire sheet
➢​ Clipboard ​
➢​ Measuring tape and scale
➢​ Pen, pencil
➢​ Calculator
 4. RESULTS AND OBSERVATION :

4.1. Pre-stocking management

Pond shape and size:
The selected pond was rectangular in shape having an area of 160 decimal.

Table-1: Information of the study pond :

Area (decimal) 160

Shape Rectangular

Depth 5/6 ft

Dyke Good

Figure 1 : Partial View of the study pond.

Dyke repairing

Dyke of the pond is very important for fish culture. The dyke of the study pond
was found in good condition. The fish farmer didn’t take any steps for dyke
repairs.
Removal of predatory and weed fish :
Rotenone was used by the farmer to remove predatory and unwanted fish
species from the study pond. Rotenone was used at the rate of 20 g/decimal.

Liming :
Liming is very important to ensure the good quality of pond water. The lime was
used 2 days after poisoning the pond by Rotenone at the rate of 150 g/decimal.
Lime was diluted in water and then thrown into the pond water.

Fertilization :
Fertilization is very important for natural food production in the pond. The
farmer used both organic (cow dung) and inorganic (urea, TSP) fertilizers in the
study pond before stocking cultured species. Fertilizers were applied 2 days
after applying lime in the pond. Inorganic fertilizers were applied by spreading
in diluted form and organic fertilizers were taken into sacks and placed under
the pond water with the help of a disc. The fertilizers used, their application
rate and application method during the pre-stocking management in the pond
are given in Table- 1.

Fertilizers Application rate Application method

Cow dung 3kg/dec By using bags

Urea 120g/dec Spreading in dilute form

T.S.P. 65g/dec Spreading in dilute form

Table 1: The fertilizers used, their application rate and application method
during the pre-stocking management in the pond.
4.2 Stocking management

Selection of fish species

Poly-culture system was practiced in the study pond. Both exotic and native
carp species were considered for culture by the fish farmer for their high growth
rate.

Table 2: The local name, scientific name and type or origin of the fish species
cultured in the study pond.

Local name Scientific name Type of origin

Catla Labeo catla Native

Rui Labeo rohita Native

Mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala Native

Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Exotic

Carpio Cyprinus carpio Native

Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus Exotic

Fish seed collection

The fish seeds were collected from the nearest fry stocking pond. The seeds
were carried out in a steel pot manually (on shoulder).

Release of seed

The fish seeds were released in the study pond in the early morning. Stocking
density of cultured fish species and their stocking density are shown in Table 3.
 Table 3: Stocking density of the cultured species in the study pond

Species Species Month of release Time of release

name density(No/Bigha)

Catla 130 February Morning(8 to 9 am)

Rui 350 - -

Mrigal 135 - -

Carpio 200 - -

Silver carp 327 - -

Tilapia 196 - -

4.3. Post stocking management

Pond monitoring
The farmer monitored the study pond on a regular basis with a view to observe
watercolor, availability of natural food and movement of the stocked species.

a) Liming : Lime was applied twice a month after stocking the cultured species
in the pond. Lime was applied 5 times after fish stocking in the pond.

b) Fertilization:
The farmer applied both organic and inorganic fertilizers in the study pond to
enhance the natural food production. Inorganic fertilizers (diluted) were applied
by throwing on a monthly basis and organic fertilizers were transferred into a
sack and placed under the pond water on fortnightly basis (Figure 7). The
fertilizers used, their doses and application technique during post stocking
management in the study pond are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: The fertilizer used their doses and application technique during post
stocking management in the study pond.

Fertilizers Amount/decimal Application method

Cow dung 260g By using bags

Urea 120 g Spread out in dilute form

TSP 65g Spread out in dilute form

c) Supplementary feeding:
Mainly 4 types of supplementary feed were used during post stocking
management namely, maize bran, wheat bran, mustard oil cake, fish quality
feed and popular grower Feed. Oil cake and wheat bran were used (1:1) at 2 to
3% of fish body weight every day.

Figure 2 : Different types of supplementary feed and feed throwing in the pond.
d) Sampling:
Netting specially for sampling purposes was done fortnightly in the study pond.
A few fish specimens were caught and observed for growth of the stocked
species, disease and other factors. Farmers also tried to understand the
condition of the stocked fish by observing fish movement and water color.
e) Partial harvesting:
Partial harvesting was done after three and half months of stocking by using
cast net.

Figure 3: Partial harvesting of the study pond.

f) Harvesting:
The pond farmer harvested all the fish at the end of the culture period. Final
harvesting was carried out by using cast net and seine net. The harvesting
procedure and its purpose in the study pond are given in Table 7.

Figure 4 : Final harvesting of the study pond.

 Harvesting type Harvesting Harvesting purpose
procedure

Partial harvesting Cast net & seine net For household

consumption & selling

Final harvesting Seine net For selling

Table 7 : Final harvesting of the study pond.

g) Marketing of fish :
All the fish were marketed immediately after harvesting in the early morning in
the nearby fish markets. The harvested fish were transported from the study
pond to the fish markets by van and mechanized van.

4.4. Production
A total of 380 kg of Catla, 480 kg of Carpio, 950 kg of Rui, 400 kg of Mrigal,
and 910 kg of Silver carp, 220 kg of Tilapia were harvested from the study pond
The total amount of the production was 3340 kg fishes.
(Table 8)

Serial no Name Total amount of

production

1 Catla 380 kg

2 Rui 950 kg

3 Mrigal 400 kg

4 Silver carp 910 kg

5 Tilapia 220 kg

6 Carpio 480 kg

Total= 3,340 kg
Cost-Benefit analyses:

Table 9: Cost analysis of the study pond:

Pre-Stocking management cost:

Inputs Amount(No/kg) Unit price (tk) Cost (tk)

Dyke and - - 3500

bottom repair

Poisoning ( Gas 600 2 /piece 1200

Tablet)

Liming 175 20/kg 3500

Fertilizers 400 2/kg 800

i.Cow dung

ii. Urea 28 25 /kg 700

iii.T.S.P 15 30/kg 450

Total= 10150

Stocking management cost:

Inputs Amount (kg) Unit price (tk/kg) Cost (TK)

(Fish Seed Stocking)
i. Silver carp 175 85 14875

ii.Catla 93 130 12350

iii.Rui 210 130 27300
iv.Mrigal 70 110 7700
v.Caprio 88 90 7920
vi.Tilapia 67 85 5695
Total = 75,840
Post-Stocking management cost :

Inputs Amounts (kg) Unit price (tk/kg) Cost (tk)

1. Fishing

i. Wheat bran 265 40 10600

ii. MOC 220 50 11000

iii. Rice bran 420 28 11760

iv. Fish feed 200 55 11000

v. Popular grower fish 2400 50 120000

feed

2. Fertilizers

i.Cow dung 170 2 340

ii.Urea 12 32 384

iii.T.S.P. 5 30 150

3. Others

i.Netting 5000

ii.Transportation 4000

Guard 20000

Other cost 5000

Total= 1,99,234
 SL no. Input Amount(kg) Unit Income Tk.
price

FISH SALE

1 Silver carp 910 210 191100

2 Catla 380 320 121600

3 Rui 950 330 313500

4 Mrigal 400 250 100000

5 Carpio 480 250 120000

6 Tilapia 220 350 77000

Total 9,23,200

4.5. Cost-benefit analysis:

Pre Stocking management Cost + Stocking Management Cost + Post Stocking

Management Cost (10,150+75,840+1,99,234) = 2,85,224 Tk

Benefit = Total income-Total Cost

= ( 9,23,200 - 2,85,224)
= 6,37,976 tk

Cost benefit Ratio (CBR) = Cost : Benefit

= 2,85,224 : 6,37,976
= 1 : 0.45

Hence, the CBR= 1 : 0.45 Tk that means 0.45 tk comes from per 1 tk.

Discussion
5.1. Management practices
Prevalent aquaculture practices were found to be practiced in the study pond.
Management practices practiced by the farmer of the study pond are discussed
below under pre-stocking, stocking and post stocking management.

5.1.1. Pre-stocking management

In pre-stocking management, farmers considered the pond collection, pond
condition and repair, control of aquatic weeds, liming, fertilization and testing of
natural food production as the management steps.

a)​ Pond collection: Before management of the pond, farmers should have
collected the pond. Pond collection and preparation is one of the most
important tasks for successful pond culture operation as well as getting
desired production. The farmer collected his pond through the lease
system for three years. The pond lease price was found to be too high and
it might be due to the competition for earning more profit through fish
culture than any other agricultural crops.

b)​ Pond condition and repair: The study pond was rectangular in shape
with an area of 160 decimal. Rectangular pond is suitable for proper
management and easy for net operations. Average depth of the pond was
5-6ft. The pond dykes are very important for fish culture, because the
pond should not be inundated or overflowed during the rainy season. The
dyke and bottom of the study pond were found in good condition thus the
farmer did not repair the dyke and bottom of the pond before stocking
the fish species.

c)​ Control of aquatic weeds: Large quantities of aquatic weeds reduce the
transparency of water, take essential nutrients from water and provide
support to many harmful organisms. Aquatic weeds also hampered
harvesting or netting and movement of fishes. The farmer followed a
traditional control method (manual with simple devices like bamboo stick,
hand etc.) against the aquatic weed for less cost involvement.
d)​ Control of predatory and unwanted fish: To get more profit from the
pond fish culture, predatory and unwanted fishes should be removed by
using suitable methods. Because they eat and waste cultured fish fry and
fish feed. They also compete for food and space with the cultured fish
species. There were few numbers of predatory and unwanted species in
the study pond and thus the farmer did not take any control measures to
control predatory and unwanted species.

e)​ Liming: Fish thrives well in alkaline water. By applying lime, the alkaline
nature can be maintained in the pond. Usually stone lime is sprayed over
the pond water for the purpose of maintaining the alkaline nature of pond
water. During pond preparation, lime application is very important for
increasing the pond productivity. Moreover, it also helps in purifying the
water. The farmer used lime during the pond preparation with the rate
varied from 1 to 1.5 kg per decimal. which is similar to DoF
recommendation (2005). It was recorded that the farmer applied lime as
a diluted application by throwing a method to make the pond free from
fish parasites and to maintain a suitable environment necessary for
better health of fish.

f)​ Fertilization: Fertilization is an important task at the time of pond

preparation. Fertilizer enhances the vegetative growth of planktons and
green aquatic plants which are ultimately consumed by the
phytoplankton feeder fish. From four to six days after liming, the farmer
used both organic and inorganic fertilizers to increase the natural food
production for fishes by increasing nutrient contents., According to DOF
the recommended rate of organic fertilizer such as cow dung 1500
kg/acre. And inorganic such as urea 900 kg/acre, T.S.P. 1350 kg/acre. On
the contrary the applied rate of organic fertilizer in the study pond was
cow-dung 4kg/dec, inorganic such as urea 0.5 kg/dec. and T.S.P 1 kg/dec.
The farmer used these fertilizers for easy availability and application.

g)​ Testing of natural food production: Before fish fry releasing, the farmer
tested natural food in his pond through eye observation and sometimes
he observed it by glass method. According to the farmer, the water colour
becomes light greenish to green which is appropriate for fish culture and
there is sufficient natural food present.
5.1.2. Stocking management

In stocking management, the farmer mostly considered the species selection,

quality fish seed collection and stocking density of fish seeds.

a)​ Selection of culturable species:

The farmer selected fish species mainly by considering growth rate, high market
value and availability of fish seed. He used to select three types of native
species (Rui, Catla, Mrigal and Carpio) and two types exotic species -(Silver
carp, Tilapia) in this culture system. The selection of culturable fish species
depended on the choice of fish species.

b)​ Seed collection:

The fish production is increased with the availability of quality seed. So, the
production of quality seed and their uninterrupted supply to the fish grower is a
prerequisite. There were three major sources of fish seeds namely Govt.
hatchery, private hatchery and traveling vendors. Quality seed was collected by
farmers from the private hatchery and rearing ponds.

c)​ Releasing of fry:

The fish seeds are released into the pond on the basis of stocking density. The
stocking density is somewhat similar to the DoF recommendation. The farmer
stocked fish seeds on the basis of their habitat to maintain stock density in
every layer. Before stocking, the color of the pond water was examined by the
farmer properly through eye observation whether the pond was ready for
stocking with sufficient natural food.

5.1.3. Post-stocking management

In post-stocking management farmers considered pond monitoring, limiting,

fertilization, feeding, sampling, harvesting and marketing as the management
steps.

a)​ Pond monitoring:

It was found that the farmer maintains pond monitoring on a daily basis for the
first 8-10 days after stocking. Observations of watercolor, mortality of fishes
were the main objective of this monitoring.
 b)​ Liming:
The farmer also used lime after stocking operations, but no regular lime
application was practiced. The pond farmer applies lime when he observes
water quality starts to spoil due to any cause or when fishes are affected by
diseases. Lime should be applied two or three times in a year to prevent
parasitic attack (Hashem, 1997).

c)​ Fertilization
Fertilizer enhances the production and growth of phytoplankton aquatic plants
which are ultimately consumed by herbivorous fishes. In the post stocking
management daily application rate at fertilizer was found quite similar to the
recommendation rate of DOF (2005).

d)​ Feeding
The farmer supplied supplementary feed in the study pond to supplement
natural foods for faster growth of fishes. In the aquaculture system daily
feeding gives the best results obtaining high fish yield. They use rice bran,
oilcake and wheat bran. Boyd (1982) suggested feeding carp with a mixture of
oilcake and rice bran (1:1).

e)​ Sampling:
Sampling is necessary two or three times in a month about 10% of the total
stock to observe the growth rate, disease or other important environmental
factors. Farmers observed the growth rate, disease etc. by sampling.

f)​ Harvesting:
Harvesting is the last cultural practice in fish production. Fishes are harvested
when they are of marketable size. Partial harvesting and restocking was
followed During partial harvesting large size of fishes were collected by cast net
and during winter season final harvesting was done by seine net in the early
morning because of having low temperature, freshness of fish and high market
price due to meet the fish market quickly.

g)​ Marketing:
A good marketing system is important to receive high prices on produced fish.
The farmer sold his product in Rajabari hat , Premtoli bazaar and Bidirpur hat,
Rajshahi. Motorized Van and Truck were used for transportation.
5.2. Production

Local environmental factors such as soil condition play an important role in

nutrient availability and its chemical transformation through the
bio-geo-chemical cycle which ultimately affects the fish production (Boyd, 1979).
Growth rate of the fish is controlled by a variety of factors of which genetic
growth potential, culture technique, environmental parameters and nutrients
are most important. The average production of the study pond was 3340 kg /
160 decimal/6 months. That means 20.87 kg /decimal /6 months. Comparatively
higher production of fish was obtained from the study ponds which might be
due to better water quality parameters and good quantity of plankton
populations.

5.3. Cost-benefits analysis

The primary variable costs were the cost of fish seeds, feed, fertilizers, and
labor for various operations. Land lease costs, on the other hand, were
considered fixed costs. Furthermore, variable costs were incurred throughout
the production period rather than all at the start of the season. The total cost of
the 6-month long fish culture was 2,85,224 tk, while the total income was
9,23,200 tk, resulting in a profit of 6,37,976 tk for the farmer. The calculated C.B.R
is 1:0.45, which means that for every 1 TK invested, 0.45 tk is returned.
 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

CONCLUSION

Bangladesh is an agro-country and it’s huge water resource is scattered all

over the table for fish culture. At present, the fisheries sector has made
significant contributions to the agriculture sector in Bangladesh. For this
"Aquaculture Practice Experience” is essential for providing hands-on
exposure to illustrate key concepts to develop basic practical skills and giving
theoretical aspects of the study more meaningful and relevance. So,the sharing
of knowledge with the farmer on “Aquaculture Practical Experience" is very
important for the development of the aquaculture system. Therefore a study
was conducted on "Aquaculture Practice Experience" in Godagari Upazila of
Rajshahi district to find out the status of fish culture in that area. The farmer of
the study followed a more or less semi-intensive fish culture system. If the
farmer follows the proper semi-intensive fish culture techniques, the fish
production of carp culture could be increased in a sustainable way. The farmer
took necessary steps in the pre-stocking, stocking, post-stocking stage. Due to
high growth rate and suitable environment, the Indian major carps such as Rui,
Catla, Mrigal etc. and exotic fishes like, Tilapia, Silver carp etc. occupied as the
major culturable species in the study pond. The production of the study pond
was more or less satisfactory, which might be due to suitable water quality and
sufficient natural fish food organisms. The farmer lacked technical knowledge of
fish culture as he had not attended any training or workshop on fish culture. If
this problem can be solved and the risk can be minimized and the farmers of the
country can be trained by government or non-government organizations, we
can get a greater amount of fish production from our inland culture fisheries.
So, for getting proper production from our aquatic resources, the problems
which are faced by the farmers should be identified and should be solved. Then
we can hope to get far greater fish production from inland culture fisheries
which will help the national economy of this country.
Recommendations:

Based on the study's findings, the following recommendations can be

implemented to enhance aquaculture practices in the area:

●​ Development of region-specific technologies.

●​ Production and supply of superior quality fish seeds.
●​ Ensuring availability and accessibility of affordable fish feed and fertilizer.
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