The second largest export industry in Bangladesh is the shrimp industry and its contribution is about 4.7% to GDP and 9.38% of total exports. Given its importance to the economy, the present study attempts to explain the problems and prospects of shrimp/prawn gher farming system in Bangladesh. Case studies and secondary data were used in the present study. The findings indicated that the shrimp-gher farming system has a negative impact on the environment, ecology, land degradation, livestock, and water quality, whereas the rice-prawn gher farming system is friendlier to environments, ecology, and water quality and helps alleviate poverty. The rice-prawn gher farming system has significant impacts on land for modern varieties (MV) paddy production. The yield of MV paddy production under rice-prawn gher farming system is almost the same as the yield in other parts of Bangladesh where the farmers usually produce only year-round MV paddy. The rice-prawn gher farming system is providing a sufficient amount of rice, fish and vegetables to small, marginal and landless farmers that would not be possible under shrimp gher farming. The rice-prawn gher farming system will be sustainable if the government takes necessary steps for its development.
JBS Vol 08. Num 2. 2006 - PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SHRIMP AND RICE-PRAWN GHER FARMING SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH
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