Boosting pond fish production

The fisheries sector contributes about 5.0 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 9.0 per cent of the labour force of the country. There was a time when the fisheries sector at large was ignored for production of rice. With growing per capita income, per capita consumption of rice is on the wane and that of fish up.
Fisheries provide a major source of animal protein and about 80 per cent of the country's animal protein consumption. Thus, it is important for both national income and employment and is a critical source of essential minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. The fisheries sector has also emerged as the second largest foreign exchange earner for the national exchequer after ready-made garments.
According to a recent study by the World Bank, demand for fish is expected to increase from the present 2.2 million metric tons to between 5.5 million metric tons and 8.0 million metric tons by 2025. The report added that the incremental production would need to be derived from inland aquaculture through some combination of increase in production per unit area, increase in area under production, and increase in imports.
Bangladesh's fisheries sector comprises three different sources: marine, inland (culture) and inland (capture). Fish farming, particularly in ponds, is one of the fastest-growing economic activities in Bangladesh. Currently, pond fish farming and shrimp culture are robust growing sectors. It is believed that with proper support, pond fish culture may contribute a lot to the economy of Bangladesh. Appropriate policy support obviously requires an in-depth understanding about the performance of pond fish culture both at the national and district level. Prospects and policies, accompanied by other necessary supports, can be designed to create a meaningful way to develop the sector.
The regional concentrations of fish production can also be observed. Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Joypurhat and Rangpur have formed a fish farming region in the northern part of Bangladesh, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur in the western side, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj in the eastern region and Brahmanbaria, Narshingdi, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariat-pur and Madaripur in the middle part. Barisal, Jhalakathi and Bagerhat in the southern part of Bangladesh are high-growth regions for fisheries.
Association between growth in production and contribution of pond fish to total fish production in a district can provide useful insights into production performance. It might be the case that high growth may have occurred in a district where relative contribution is higher and vice versa.  High growth (annual growth at more than 14 per cent) in pond fish production along with high contribution (share of pond fish to total fish production was more than 60 per cent in 2003/04) was observed in five districts Thakurgaon, Jhalakati, Brahmanbaria, Joypurhat and Nawabganj.
On the other hand, pond fish production has experienced low growth in production and had low contribution to the total fish production in Kishoreganj. Ten districts (Nilphamari, Laksmipur, Sylhet, Barisal, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Sunamganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Bagerhat) have high growth in pond fish production although their share is low in total fish production of the district. For allocation of public resources for aquaculture development, special attention must be given to the 40 districts which have experienced high or medium growth in production along its high or medium contribution to total fish production indicating potential for fish supply in the country.
Estimated coefficients of the production function showed that pond fish production has a direct relation with area under fish cultivation, human capital, production technology, access to market and per capita income of the district.  All the estimated coefficients were statistically significant at 1.0 per cent level of significance except per capita income which is significant at 5 per cent. Summation of coefficients of the explanatory variables is 1.13 indicating that pond fish production has been operating under increasing returns to scale. Estimated coefficients of the production function also indicate that 10 per cent increase in area under pond fish cultivation will increase pond fish production by 7.36 per cent.
On the other hand, 10 per cent increase in literacy rate will increase pond fish production by 0.67 per cent. Promotion of fish production technology (10 per cent increase in area under fish culture) is likely to increase fish production by 2.02 per cent. Increased market access (10 per cent increase in road density) will increase pond fish production by 0.72 per cent. Ten per cent increase in per capita income will increase pond fish production by 0.53 per cent.
Bangladesh's performance in pond fish production during the period of analysis (1994/95-20034/04) was good. Area and production of pond fish have increased substantially. Growth in pond fish production was due to increase in area under production and intensive cultivation. Differential performance in pond fish production was observed across the districts.
Based on the findings of the study, following policy suggestions may be put forward for further increase in pond fish production in the country:
* Some regional concentrations in pond fish production were observed in the northern,   western, south-west, south and eastern parts of the country. Special projects may be developed in the Annual Development Programmes (ADPs) and in the Sixth Five Year Plan to provide better service provision for pond fish production. These relate to dissemination of technological know-how, quality fingerlings, supply of quality fish feed and marketing of fish from these districts.
* For allocation of public resources for aquaculture development, special attention must be given to the 40 districts which have experienced high or medium growth in production along high or medium contribution to total fish production indicating potential for fish supply in the country.
* Since technology has significant contribution to the total pond fish production, the government must allocate resources for generation and dissemination of new technology and   
* Training of fish farmers, supply of necessary inputs, and fish cultivation in derelict ponds would have positive impacts on pond fish production in Bangladesh.
The writer is Professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar University.
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