This document describes a research project aimed at improving the productivity and sustainability of small homestead fish ponds in Bangladesh in ways that benefit women. The objectives are to increase fish productivity while reducing external inputs, enhance fish harvesting for consumption and income, increase fish species diversity, and ensure equitable benefits for women. The research will study appropriate fish species and densities, the effects of different pond habitats on fish productivity and reproduction, and the pond food/energy cycle. It will also assess the impacts of participatory action research on gender equity outcomes. The research engages farmers, with a focus on women, to generate knowledge and is studying alternative pond management approaches suitable for small, shaded homestead ponds.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Prioritizing Farmer Objectives
#1 Increased
fish
consumption #2 Women’s
enhanced
value in
family and
society
#3
Increased
income #4 Capacity
to do
Research

5. 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

6. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Consumed Sold/Gifted Total Harvest
Fishproduction(kg/hh)
Baseline
2013
2013 Results: Fish Production & Consumption

7. 0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
%oftotalcards
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

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

9. 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
Research
Agendas
Small
Pond
Aquaculture
Small
Pond
Habitat Mgt
Year 1 Year 2

10. 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)

11. 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

12. Thank You