Transforming organic prawn farming in Bangladesh: Potentials and challenges
Introduction
Bangladesh is one of the most suitable countries in the world for giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man) farming, because of its favorable biophysical resources and agro-climatic conditions (Ahmed et al., 2008). Abundant ponds and low-lying rice fields with the availability of wild postlarvae1in coastal Bangladesh provide ample opportunity for prawn culture (Ahmed et al., 2010). Since the 1980s, coastal Bangladesh has been extensively used for prawn farming (Ahmed, 2013a). Over three-quarters of prawn farms are located in southwest Bangladesh. In 2014–2015,2 total annual prawn production was estimated at 42,053 tons from 59,115 ha area, with an average annual productivity of 711 kg/ha (FRSS, 2016). Prawn farming has diversified livelihood opportunities for the coastal poor, with over two million people involved in prawn and shrimp3 production, marketing, processing, and exporting (WorldFish, 2013).
Prawn farming is currently one of the most important sectors of the national economy. Over the last three decades, its development has attracted considerable attention due to its export potential in the global market, particularly the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) (Ahmed, 2013a). In 2014–2015, Bangladesh exported 44,278 tons of prawn and shrimp valued at US$506 million, of which US$106 million (21%) was prawn (FRSS, 2016). The prawn and shrimp sector is the 2nd largest export industry after readymade garments. Overall, prawn and shrimp production play an important role in earning foreign exchange, increasing food production, diversifying livelihoods, and income for farming households and associated groups (Ahmed, 2013a, Islam, 2008a, Ito, 2002, Ito, 2004).
Despite wider economic benefits, there are some concerns about the long-term environmental sustainability of prawn farming. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, covering an area of 144,000 km2 with a population of over 160 million. The demand for food production is constantly increasing due to population growth. However, agricultural land has declined at 0.24% (33,140 ha) per annum over the last three decades (1976–2010) (Hasan et al., 2013). Although prawn farming with fish and rice contributes to food production (Ahmed et al., 2010), the associated wild postlarvae fishing has negative environmental impacts (Ahmed and Troell, 2010). Shrimp farming also has devastating effects on the world’s largest continuous mangrove forest of the Sundarbans. Since 1975, around 10,000 ha of mangrove loss has been attributed to shrimp culture in Bangladesh (Hasan et al., 2013, Shahid and Islam, 2002). Because of environmental degradation, major prawn and shrimp producing countries in Asia have recently experienced a substantial decline in export as a result of diseases (FAO, 2016a). Nevertheless, organic culture could help to prevent disease as organic management practices achieve a high level of disease resistance (Debio, 2009, Ötles et al., 2010). It is, therefore, important to produce environmentally sustainable prawn in compliance with organic culture standards.
Globally, organic aquaculture emerged as an alternative to solve environmental problems with health and safety issues faced by modern aquaculture (Biao, 2008, Boehmer et al., 2005, Stern, 2007). The emergence of organic aquaculture is associated with concerns about animal welfare, eco-labeling, food safety and quality issues, high consumer acceptance, and reducing environmental impacts (Aarset et al., 2004, Brister and Kapuscinski, 2001, Censkowsky and Altena, 2013, Xie et al., 2013). Organic aquaculture takes into account animal welfare through fish health management with disease control and prevention (Censkowsky and Altena, 2013). Animal welfare is a growing concern by consumers (Cottee and Petersan, 2009), and thus, consumer perceptions of animal welfare and farming practices are important in terms of their health and living environment (Frewer et al., 2005). Consumers’ awareness about environmental impacts of production systems and knowledge of eco-labels are important factors for purchasing eco-labeled seafood (Jonell, 2016).
Although a significant number of studies have been conducted on prawn farming in Bangladesh, none have addressed organic prawn culture. The concept of organic aquaculture is relatively new, although Bangladesh is ranked 6th in global aquaculture production after China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines (FAO, 2016a). In recent years, attention has been paid to organic shrimp farming in Bangladesh (Hensler and Bremer, 2013, Paul and Vogl, 2013).
This article reviews the prospect, opportunities, and challenges for organic prawn farming in southwest Bangladesh. It is argued that a number of farmers practice some form of organic culture that can be transformed to fully organic for value addition to prawn in the international market and to reduce environmental risks. The aim of this paper is to highlight key issues for determining organic prawn farming to meet social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Section snippets
Concept of organic aquaculture
Organic aquaculture is a holistic approach that aims to produce fish and other aquatic products, which are ecologically, economically, and socially sound (Birt et al., 2009, Cottee and Petersan, 2009, IFOAM EU Group, 2010). In particular, organic aquaculture refers to ecological production management systems that promote and enhance biodiversity, biological activity, and biological cycles (Bergleiter, 2003, Bergleiter et al., 2009, INFOFISH, 2011a). General characteristics of organic
Prawn farming systems
Remarkable development of M. rosenbergii farming has taken place in southwest Bangladesh (Fig. 1), where thousands of farmers have converted their rice fields to prawn farms, locally known as “gher” (Ahmed et al., 2010). The culture of prawn and fish (mainly Indian major carp and exotic carp) in ponds and rice fields, with high prices for prawn in the international market, combined with rice and fish for household consumption and local markets, has led to an increasing number of farmers in
Opportunities
The culture of wild prawn postlarvae and the use of snail meat and farm-made feeds with cow dung can in many respects be considered as semi-organic. Extensive and partly improved-extensive farmers mainly practice this form of aquaculture (Table 2). These farmers prefer: (1) low-input farming, (2) stocking of wild prawn fry, (3) using snail meat, home-made, and farm-made feeds, and (4) applying cow dung as organic fertilizer. However, these farmers are unaware of the potential for economic
Further concerns of organic prawn culture
In addition to the above mentioned challenges, a number of further issues arise in transforming organic prawn culture (Fig. 5). Organic aquaculture considers four major areas: (1) environment, (2) animal welfare, (3) socioeconomics, and (4) consumer protection (Censkowsky and Altena, 2013, IFOAM, 2014, IFOAM EU Group, 2010).
Future prospects
Despite significant challenges, there is potential for transforming organic prawn culture that could be driven by market demand. The economic viability of certified organic prawn farming is closely linked to market access. There is an existing export market for prawn with appropriate infrastructure, processing facilities, and export services. Although export markets for Bangladeshi prawn have grown in volume and value over the decades, a good reputation for organic product will need to be
Conclusions and recommendations
The culture of wild prawn postlarvae and the use of snail meat and farm-made feeds with cow dung in southwest Bangladesh can be considered as semi-organic. However, the transformation of semi-organic to certified organic prawn farming is a huge challenge. The stocking of wild postlarvae is incompatible with the concept of organic aquaculture. The application of snail meat and industrial feeds are also concerned for organic prawn production. Moreover, the utilization of chemical fertilizers is
Acknowledgments
The study was supported through the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. The study was a part of the first author’s research work under the Georg Forster Research Fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Germany. The study was also linked to the first author’s Visiting Research Fellowship at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Manitoba, Canada. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of
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