Files
Abstract
A survey on fish seed farms was conducted to know the socioeconomic background of farm owners, characteristics of farms, sources of funds, returns and constraints of fish seed farming. Fish seed farm owners having hatchery facilities were financially stronger, well-educated and well-trained than only nursery pond owners. But only nursery pond owners were more experienced in fish seed business than hatchery owners. Most of the owners (>80%) were satisfied for the limnological conditions of their ponds and existing communication facilities; most of them also had integrated farming facilities. In general, hatchery and nursery owners received highest prices of spawn and fry and fingerlings at the start of the season and the prices gradually drop off upto the end of the season. Problem of marketing of spawn and fry and fingerlings was one of the major problems as claimed by the owners. These problems could be solved by ensuring proper marketing facilities, providing soft loan to poor owners, ensuring proper training for the farm employees and improving law and order situations of the country. However, fish seed farm owners expressed that fish seed business was a profitable one.