DFID Nutrition sensitive aquaculture and horticultural activities of Suchana, WorldFish Quarterly Process Monitoring Report July to Sep 2020

Abstract

WorldFish team has developed the current report using the online MIS database of Suchana. A total 61 data were collected during 1st January to 16th March 2020. Out of 61 data, 27 were on demonstration ponds (Demo-Ponds), 32 were on Homestead Food Production ponds (HFP-Ponds) and only 2 on Income Generating Activities ponds (IGA-ponds). Considering the very smaller sample size, findings from IGA-ponds weren’t presented in the current report. The average pond sizes were 11.2 decimals and 10.9 decimals for Demo-Pond and HFP-Pond respectively. The pond sizes per respondent household were 9.6 decimals and 6.3 decimals for Demo-Pond and HFP-Pond respectively. More proportion (83%) of Demo-Ponds had single ownership compare to the HFP-Ponds (58%). Both the positive and negative observations were found during the visits by Suchana staff members. Number of ponds had very good, good and moderate growth of fish. But condition of some ponds weren’t good. Water of some ponds were turbid, some ponds had weeds. Irregular use of fish feed and fertilizers in the pond were also observed. More than ninety percent of both Demo-pond BHHs (93%) and HFP-Pond BHHs 91% harvested fish from their ponds in last 30 days since the visits; whereas one third (30%) of Demo-Pond BHHs and only 13% of HFP-Pond BHHs sold their fish in last 30 days. The average fish was harvested 22.7 kilogram per Demo-Pond operator and 7.0 kilograms per HFP-Pond household in last 30 days. Larger proportions of harvested fish were used for family consumption for both the Demo-Ponds (55%) and HFP-Ponds (78%). Suchana staff members had some suggestions during their visits. The major suggestions were to clean pond water and surrounding dykes and pruning of the large trees where applicable; to use lime for improving the quality of water; to take initiatives for stocking (phase 4) and re-stocking (Phase 1, 2 & 3) of fingerlings. Before stocking and re-stocking, pond operators should ensure the pond preparation adequately. They also suggested to apply of fish feed and fertilizers regularly and to encourage the pond operators to harvest and consume small fishes especially mola and tilapia regularly.