RinD Approach to Small Homestead Ponds: A Focus on Women

CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone Conference

21-23 October 2014

Golam Faruque and Quazi Kabir, WorldFish

Key Research Question: What technologies lead to sustainable intensification and regular harvesting of fish from small homestead ponds and how can these be developed and delivered in ways that lead to equitable benefits? Objectives: Ø  Increased productivity in small homestead ponds Ø  Reduced external feed and fish seed inputs Ø  Enhanced & more constant fish harvesting for consumption and income Ø  Increased diversity of fish species Ø  Increased equity of benefits for women

Key Research Interventions: Ø  Research on appropriate fish species and density Ø  Research on effects of diversity of fish habitats on fish productivity and

reproduction Ø  Understanding shaded pond food/energy cycle Ø  Impacts of Participatory Action Research on gender equity outcomes

Partners: §  CPWF Project §  CSISA Project §  AIN Project §  AAS CRP §  CCAFS CRP

Why is this research is important? "  4.27 million small shaded household ponds in Bangladesh (Ben & Arif 2012) have the potential for enhanced fish productivity "  Traditional aquaculture technologies don’t work well in small shaded ponds "  Women’s engagement in household pond provides opportunities for greater equity of benefits How this research is different? "   Engages farmers as co-researchers in

knowledge generation and analysis "   Focus on women as the key actors "   Research to understand alternative food

systems appropriate for shaded multi-use ponds

"   Focus on a regular off-take of fish for consumption as primary objective

Prioritizing Farmer Objectives

#1 Increased fish

consumption #2 Women’s enhanced value in

family and society

#3 Increased

income #4 Capacity to do

Research

q  Daily activity data was collected in pond record books (farmers) q  Documented fortnightly group meeting discussions (researchers)

PAR-implementation

¡ Pond management ¡ Participatory monitoring & analysis ¡ Learn & Share ¡ Generate research interest & skill and innovation for women

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Consumed Sold/Gifted Total Harvest

Fish

pro

duct

ion

(kg/

hh)

Baseline 2013

2013 Results: Fish Production & Consumption

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

% o

f tot

al c

ards

Participants: Barisal 40 & Satkhira 45 Each participants given 20 cards for voting Barisal

Sathkhira

¡  Learnt how to develop and use derelict pond or poor resources

¡  Can eat fish

any time ¡ Increased income

¡  Learnt the fish culture technique

¡  Can sell fish

whenever needed

¡ Provided important family nutrition

¡  Gained research knowledge (testing different things)

¡  Women more valued in the family ¡ Developed close social relationship with other farmers ¡ Enormous support to meet children educational expenses

Emerging outcomes from the PAR

Income Food Minimal Input Continual Harvest Women’s Status Science Capacity Diversity of Fish Self Renewal

This program of research is evolving in 2014

Small Pond Aquaculture

•  Increased Fish Production

•  Increased Fish Consumption

•  Enhanced Women’s Status

•  Increased Income •  Increased

Women’s Capacity to do Research

Res

earc

h A

gend

as

Small Pond

Aquaculture

Small Pond

Habitat Mgt

Year 1 Year 2

Small Pond

Aquaculture (96 Ponds)

Research Agendas Fish Species and Density Feeding Strategies Productivity Understanding Food Cycles Research Capacity Development

Research Agendas Fish Species and Density Fish Lifecycles Feeding Behavior vs Habitat Productivity vs Habitat Type Understanding Food Cycles Research Capacity Development

Small Pond

Habitat Mgt (60 Ponds)

2014 PAR design

Different type of fish habitat for small homestead pond T1  (12  ponds)  Water hyacinth ring  Ring set (2 in each)  Bamboo mat cage  Bamboo branch  

T2  (12  ponds)    Coconut branch  Shallow bed with vegetable/crop  Rope cage  

Bamboo tubes  

T3  (12  ponds)  all  habitats  Coconut branch  Shallow bed with vegetable/crop  Rope cage  Bamboo tubes  Water hyacinth ring  Ring set (2 in each)  Bamboo mat cage  Bamboo branch  

T4  (12  ponds)  (12  ponds)  all  habitats    double  in  number  Coconut branch  Shallow bed with vegetable/crop  Rope cage  Bamboo tubes  Water hyacinth ring  Ring set (2 in each)  Bamboo mat cage  Bamboo branch  

16  fish  species  in  all  ponds  Chela  

Narkoli  Small chingri  GuchiBaim  Darkina  Mola  Deshiputi  Taki (small fry)  Singh  Magur  Deshi koi  Kholisha  Tilapia (25-50 gm)  Rui  Catla  Mrigal  

Thank You