Europian Union| Introducing circularity through climate-smart aquaculture in Bangladesh (Artemia4Bangladesh) March 2022 to February 2023

Abstract

The objective of the project is to enhance agricultural and food systems in the Cox´s Bazar area of Bangladesh. The aim of this annual report is to describe the progress of the project activities, challenges faced and lessons learned during March 2022 to February 2023. The major achievements during this period include - i. Maintained multi-stakeholder partnerships together with two governmental organizations (DoF, and BSCIC), three non-governmental organizations (Shushilan, Mukti Cox’s Bazar and Coast Foundation), two foreign universities (Ghent University, Belgium, and Can Tho University, Vietnam), 41 Artemia and aquaculture farmers, 20 improved traditional marine aquaculture farmers, 29 homestead aquaculture farmers, 14 shrimp nursery farmers, 4 shrimp hatcheries and 1 fish hatchery. ii. During this period, total 13 kg Artemia cyst and 1312 kg Artemia biomass were produced. Twenty farmers were successful in Artemia pond culture. Forty-one farmers prepared ponds for Artemia pond culture in 2023. Artemia biomass was used as live feed for shrimp and fish broodstock domestication, post larval rearing, grow out ponds, ornamental fish and for human consumption. iii. In total, 106 aquaculture demonstration farms were established. During the reporting period, operated seventy-seven aquaculture demonstrations in 63 ha water area together with aquaculture in Artemia ponds, homestead aquaculture, improved traditional marine aquaculture, shrimp and tilapia culture in the salt farms. The demonstration farms produced 8.2 metric tons (MT) of shrimp, 25 MT Fish and 2.0 MT crab. On an average, the income of demonstration farmers had increased 250%, ranging between 100% to 380% depending on the type of intervention. Trained farmers produced shrimp/fish/crab in 361 ha water area. Beside, 29 demonstration farms were newly constructed for the operation in 2023. iv. Fifty-nine capacity development events organized with a total 1808 participants. The events included second project steering committee meeting, annual workplan development workshop, stakeholder consultation meeting and field visit with the participation of the representatives of the delegation of the European Union (EUD), international study visits, training on Artemia and aquaculture, national fisheries policy-1998 revision workshop, gender integration activities, and participation in the national fish week and science conferences of the two national universities. v. Communication and visibility materials prepared including signboards, posters, backdrops, placards, festoons, videos and mass media (newspaper, TV, Facebook). The videos covered visit of the EUD, International Women’s Day (IWD), training, policy dialogue for the revision of the national fisheries policy, documentary on the project activities, participation in the science conference. vi. Developed training and extension materials including handbook for Artemia pond culture, training manuals on Artemia pond culture, Artemia cyst hatching and decapsulation and farmers record book for the demonstration ponds of the interventions. vii. An environmental footprint study conducted on Artemia pond culture. The study indicated that inorganic fertilizer particularly urea has environmental impact. Supplementation with organic fertilizer (cowdung, chicken manure, kitchen waste) will reduce the use of urea in Artemia pond culture. The locally produced Artemia cyst and biomass contribute to improve shrimp and crab seed quality in the hatcheries, and biodiversity conservation through reducing dependency on wild broodstock and seed. viii. Artemia biomass produced in the ponds were free from major shrimp pathogens namely White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) and Enterocytozoon heaptopenaei (EHP). Nutritional quality analysis showed that Artemia biomass contains crude protein (43-55%) and crude fat (6-7%), essential amino acids (Arginine, Histidine, Leucine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Isoleucine and Valine), and polyunsaturated fatty acids namely Docosahexaenoic acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Linolenic Acid, and Arachidonic acid. ix. Gathered climate information including diurnal water temperature fluctuation and monthly rainfall data of Cox’s Bazar. An M.Sc. student of Ghent University, Belgium conducting research to improve technology on Artemia cyst production in the ponds. x. Gender integration activities included women engagement in homestead aquaculture and vegetable gardening, training of trainers (TOT), cooking of Artemia biomass as human food, celebration of IWD with participation of salt farmer families, gender analysis and development of gender strategy. xi. Five innovative recipes were developed for Artemia as human food namely Artemia kebab, omelet, water spinach fritters, coconut milk curry and jhal ferazi. xii. Organized the Result Orient Mission (ROM) visit, and submitted the revised logframe, and the plan to catch up the delays to the EUD. xiii. Promoted 8 technologies to enhance awareness of aquaculture producers and other relevant stakeholders. The technologies included Artemia pond culture, aquaculture in Artemia ponds, improved traditional marine aquaculture, homestead aquaculture and vegetable gardening, shrimp monoculture, shrimp nursery, recirculating aquaculture system in the shrimp hatcheries and Artemia biomass recipes for human consumption.

The major challenges during the reporting period were (a) climatic events such as early rainfall, less rain, cyclones (Ashoni and Sitrang), (b) lack of knowledge on Artemia and aquaculture technologies and marketing, (c) absence of Artemia cyst hatching, biomass processing and preservation facilities adjacent to salt farmers’ locations, (d) very low shrimp nursery farmers in Cox’s Bazar district, and (e) less engagement of women in aquaculture. Community approaches (clusters of farmers) were useful for the engagement, knowledge and skill sharing and technology dissemination. Homestead aquaculture and vegetable gardening created opportunities for women participation in income generating activities. Partnerships with NGOs opened the scope for access to finance/microcredit and technical assistance in the remote areas. Gender integration activities increased the awareness, knowledge, skills and increased income of the salt farmer families. Cluster leaders contributed to community mobilization, organized training/meetings and technology adoption.