Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2003

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environmnet, Resources and Development

The research deals with the formulation of possible strategies for the improvement of production perfo1mance of shrimp farms in Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the research were to determine the cunent status of shrimp fa1ming activities in Cox's Bazar; to assess the perception, concerns and interests among the key stakeholders about efficient operation of farms and to formulate possible strategies for the improvement of production performance of shrimp farms. The research was conducted in the 15 unions of four upazilas of Cox's Bazar district in Bangladesh in order to formulate possible strategies for the improvement of production performance of shrimp fa1ms. Three types of culture systems were selected on the basis of farming patterns. The study area was selected on the basis of potential for shrimp culture and stratified random sampling technique was applied to choose the samples. A questionnaire survey was conducted as a prime method for primary data collection. The research findings showed that production performance of the farms in this area was mainly affected by poor infrastructure, low technical knowledge, improper farming practice, inadequate extension services and low accessibility to credit for three culture systems. Key problems and constraints of the shrimp farming sector found in this research are project oriented extension service, insufficient incentives for culture sector, ineffective regulatory mechanisms, unclear credit policy, multiplicity of institutions, top-down management structures and lack of strong farmers' organizations. The research concluded that the production of shrimp farms is low in the study area. Four objectives were constructed considering all the causes leading towards low production of farms such as human resources development, development of infrastructure, credit facilitations and development of institutional anangements. To achieve each of these objectives, a number of strategies were formulated with rationale and actions. The recommendations given in this research to improve production perfo1mance of shrimp fa1ms were focused on increase of manpower of DoF at union level, provision of regular training and extension activities, formation of fa1mers' groups, effective implementation of registration system, provision for credit support, establishment of disease diagnostic and environmental parameters monitoring system, quality assurance of feed and hatchery fry, establishment of shrimp estate, zoning and integrated policy for coastal zone.