by Benoy Kumar Barman. At Ganges Regional Research Workshop of the Challenge Program on Water and Food/Water Land and Ecosystems (CPWF/WLE), May 2014

1. Community Based Fish Culture &
Integrated Floodplain Management –
implications and opportunities for adoption
in sub-polder productivity improvement
Benoy Kumar Barman
WorldFish, Bangladesh and South Asia

2. Inland Open and Closed Water Resources of Bangladesh
River &
Estuaries ,
22%
Beel , 3%
Kaptai Lake
2%Floodplain ,
69%
Pond 48%
Seasonal
water, 16%
Oxbow
lake, 1%
Shrimp
farm 35%
Inland Water: 4.7 m ha; open water 3.9 m ha (84%),
closed water 0.77 million ha (16%)
Contribution in total fish production: inland open water 29.34%
and closed water 52.92%

3. Floodplain Fisheries in Bangladesh
• Undervalued but provide essential source of food,
income and livelihoods of millions of people
• Conversion for drainage, flood control, agriculture,
changes in nature, grabbing
• Latest trends conversion of floodplains to use for
aquaculture like closed waters:
o it increases fish production and income
o but floodplain ecosystem is under stress with
loss in diversity of wild fish, other aquatic
animals and plants and ecosystem services
o loss of access and benefits of the poor

4. Floodplain fisheries in Bangladesh – important
source of fish for household consumption and
livelihoods of the poor

5. PN35: CBFC in seasonal floodplains in
Bangladesh – fingerling stocking

6. PN35: CBFC - Good Harvest 2-3 folds higher than
baseline production based on natural productivity
within 5-7 months

7. PN35: CBFC in seasonal floodplains – ensure
employment of poor fishers and other poor people

8. Problems encountered in implementing CBFC
in seasonal floodplains
Increased fish production and income but
discontinuation of the activities largely related to
Governance
 Dominance of the Leader
 Inequity in distribution of benefits
 Lack of transparency in investment and distribution of
income
 Mistrust among the members and local DoF with the
leader
 Poor coordination of Leader with other members
Managing Committee of the CBO

9. Community Based Integrated Floodplain
Management (IFM)
Reduced
irrigation water
demand
Cropping
pattern
management
Sluice Gate
Management
More water
during dry
season
Connections
during fish
migration
Aquatic
resources mngt
& conservation

10. RiU PN35: WLE supported CBFC & IFM in
Floodplains in Bangladesh
o Enhanced overall productivity - develop effective stocking strategies
of fish fingerlings, linkage with hatchery, fish seed traders and DoF
o Develop strategies for increased production of natural fish and other
aquatic animals and plants, stocked fish, agriculture, water use for
irrigation
o Improved agrobiodversity - the ecosystem functions restored and
maintained following many of the principles restoration ecology,
mmultiple uses and diversity in use of resources with increased resilience
o Income, household nutrition, children education
o Ensured access and benefits of the poor, fishers, landless, indigenous
people (Adivasi) as member of the CBOs
o Good governance – CBOs, managing committees, participatory
decision making, democratic, transparent management, responsive
leadership, strengthen the CBOs to make it sustainable, extensive
sharing with others by organizing workshop and exchange visits

11. RiU PN35: CBFC and IFM in 10 Focal and 47 Outreach Sites

12. CBFC and IFM in Floodplains – Interventions brought
significant increase in production of small fish
o Stocked 528.5 kg mola @ 1kg/ha broodfish total
harvest of small fish 19,293 kg (mola and other
species of small fish)
o Contribution of small fish in total fish production 16%
in 2012 increased to 29 % in 2013.
o Contribution of small fish in total income 36% in 2013
Note: All small fish produced largely sold in the local
market but large amount of carps sold in Dhaka.
Significant improvement in fish consumption
especially small fish by the HH members and local
consumers

13. Production of small fish (kg) from floodplains
under CBFC & IFM in 2012 and 2013
487 593
1076
2884
4171
1547
3087
5619
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Kola Khosal Kalmina Kokradoba
Yr 2012
Yr 2013

14. Production of small fish (in kg) from floodplains
under CBFC & IFM in 2012 and 2013 from Kalmina
Beel Floodplain in Fulbaria, Mymensingh (35ha)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Yr 2012 Yr 2013

15. CBFC and IFM in Floodplains – fish harvest from
Kola Beel Floodplain in Bagmara, Rajshahi

16. CBFC & IFM in Floodplains – presence of aquatic weeds
supporting production of small fish darkina (micronutrient
rich fish), puti, chingri more in Khosal Beel Floodplain in 2013