Evolution of shrimp aquaculture systems in the coastal zones of Bangladesh and Vietnam: a comparison

Abstract

Based on on-farm surveys implemented in the Ganges Delta in Bangladesh and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, the dynamics of shrimp aquaculture in salinity-influenced coastal areas were analysed. Qualitative data were collected through interviewing both individual and group farmers in 2005 and 2006, as well as key informants and value chain stakeholders, to obtain an overview of the dynamics of salinity-influenced aquaculture in these two deltas. These two cases were studied to highlight the main factors that fuelled their dynamics and the evolution of human intervention and to understand how farmers coped with various constraints (e.g. soil quality, variability in salinity, diseases, market forces, infrastructure investment, knowledge availability, access to capital and social conflict). The chapter presents an analysis of the evolution of aquaculture and agriculture production systems in salinity-influenced areas in each delta, and the different options for farmers to develop and evolve these production systems in such variable and diversified environments.