Technology adoption and economics in aquaculture in the district of Noakhali, Bangladesh : issues of vulnerabilities and resilience

Abstract

The study examined the role of technology to aquaculture farmers vulnerable to climate change and the study also identified common categories of aquaculture practices in the coastal district Noakhali, Bangladesh and the vulnerabilities associated with such aquaculture practices. The study focused on the sustainability of farmers’ livelihood. The study used extensive field visits, interviews with the key informants of Regional Fisheries and Livestock Development Component (RFLDC) and farmers, personal communications and focus group discussion as the main procedures to collect data and information. The study also used the sustainable rural livelihood framework to show farmers’ livelihood resources and transforming strategies to resilient livelihood outcome. The study found four common categories of aquaculture in the mainland, accreted and newly accreted lands of Noakhali and characterized those with technology level, size, dependencies, markets, ownership, species mix, constraints and vulnerabilities to changing climate. Average net returns from the technology induced aquaculture in community based ponds and waterlogged paddy lands were 905.33 and 362.78 USD/ha/year respectively. The study found the pond aquaculture in the newly accreted lands more vulnerable to climate change than other types. RFLDC which is a joint collaboration project of Government of Bangladesh and DANIDA, had been involved in extending technology to the poor farmers for sustainable development of the farmers’ livelihood through agricultural activities. Farmer Field Schools, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), CBO associations and Union Parishad have been found to be playing very effective role for the development of aquaculture and livelihood diversification. Diversification in the culture systems has been suggested as a management practice in the study area which can increase farmers’ resilience to the vulnerabilities.