Livelihoods, gender and social issues https://enaca.org/rss/?tag=23 Aquaculture livelihoods and social issues in rural communities. info@enaca.org info@enaca.org Copyright all rights reserved Aquaculture Asia Magazine, April-June 2025 https://enaca.org/?id=1411

In this issue:

  • From risk to resilience: Innovative crop insurance solutions for securing shrimp aquaculture in India
  • Efforts to rejuvenate primary fisher cooperative societies in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal
  • Captive production of Gangetic mystus (Mystus cavasius): A guide for farmers
  • Shrimp farm biosecurity in Saudi Arabia: A journey from past practices to future vision
  • Wolffia globosa (duckweed) in aquafeeds for profitability and eco-friendly sustainable aquaculture
  • NACA Newsletter
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Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:12:32 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1411
Efforts to rejuvenate primary fisher cooperative societies in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal https://enaca.org/?id=1407

This article examines recent initiatives to rejuvenate primary Fisher Cooperative Societies (FCSs) in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, highlighting their critical role in advancing sustainable fisheries, rural livelihoods, and social protection. It outlines the structural, administrative, and policy frameworks that support FCS operations, particularly the government’s lease-based allocation of large freshwater bodies to cooperatives. The article also reviews the election procedures conducted under the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act to reconstitute governance in 43 active societies, ensuring compliance and eligibility for state support.

Through detailed case data and programme reports, the article documents the outcomes of targeted schemes such as input distribution for sewage-fed and large-scale fish culture, equipment provisioning, pension benefits, and capacity-building training. It emphasises the cooperative model's effectiveness in managing natural resources, strengthening community self-governance, and enhancing productivity. With a focus on practical reforms and institutional accountability, the South 24 Parganas experience offers insights into scaling cooperative-led fisheries development in similar socio-ecological contexts.

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Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:49:49 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1407
From risk to resilience: Innovative crop insurance solutions for securing shrimp aquaculture in India https://enaca.org/?id=1406

India's brackishwater aquaculture sector, particularly shrimp farming, holds immense potential but remains largely underexploited despite its significant contribution to global shrimp production and exports. Small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of this industry, face substantial challenges including limited access to credit and insurance, poor management practices, and vulnerability to disease outbreaks and extreme weather events. These risks lead to considerable crop losses and hinder the sector's stability and growth. This article underscores the critical role of crop insurance as a vital risk management tool to mitigate these financial losses, secure livelihoods, and promote the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture in India.

This article details the risks associated with shrimp farming, such as climatic events, disease outbreaks, market volatility, and financial constraints. It also outlines comprehensive risk management strategies, including the adoption of better management practices, biosecurity measures, and contingency planning. The article identifies key challenges faced by both farmers and insurers and presents innovative solutions and strategic recommendations for developing more effective and inclusive shrimp crop insurance products.

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Tue, 10 Jun 2025 23:50:28 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1406
Aquaculture Asia Magazine, January-March 2025 https://enaca.org/?id=1393

In this issue:

  • Promoting farmed shrimp consumption in India’s domestic market: A step towards sustainability
  • Leveraging indigenous minor carp for sustainable aquaculture in Northeast India
  • Shaping the future of Indian aquaculture: A path to captive catfish seed success
  • Sustainable freshwater snail farming: Advancing nutrition security and rural livelihoods in Northeast India
  • Promotion and protection of small fish species through farming: An initiative in Tripura
  • NACA Newsletter
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Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:26:19 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1393
Promotion and protection of small fish species through farming: An initiative in Tripura https://enaca.org/?id=1389

Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are a rich source of essential nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making them a vital component of rural diets. Despite their nutritional significance, SIS are often undervalued and excluded from aquaculture in favor of larger commercial species.

This study highlights an initiative by ICAR-CIFA in Tripura to promote and protect small fish species through sustainable farming practices. Training programs were conducted to educate local farmers on breeding, feeding, and rearing techniques tailored to SIS. Live food production was emphasised to improve larval survival rates, and mixed-species culture strategies were developed to enhance production efficiency. The initiative demonstrated that small fish farming is a viable livelihood option, particularly in backyard water bodies, providing food security, income generation, and biodiversity conservation.

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Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:45:09 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1389
Sustainable freshwater snail farming: advancing nutrition security and rural livelihoods in Northeast India https://enaca.org/?id=1388

Northeast India faces significant nutrition security challenges, particularly in rural and tribal areas, where high stunting and anemia rates persist despite high per capita caloric intake. This article explores sustainable freshwater snail farming as a viable solution to address these nutritional deficiencies while enhancing rural livelihoods.

Freshwater snails, such as Pila globosa, Bellamya bengalensis, and Brotia costula, offer high protein content and essential minerals, particularly calcium and iron. Their nutritional value surpasses many plant-based protein sources and compares well with traditional livestock products. The study outlines three practical snail farming systems suited to different farming conditions. Economic analysis reveals that a small-scale backyard system can generate up to 1,800 kg of snails annually, yielding a 272% return on investment within five months. With proper training, infrastructure, and market linkages, freshwater snail farming can play a useful role in improving food security, economic resilience, and rural development in Northeast India.

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Sat, 15 Mar 2025 03:37:10 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1388
A success story of freshwater prawn farming as an alternative livelihood for self-help and user groups in Mayurbanja District, Odisha, India https://enaca.org/?id=1382

Freshwater prawn farming has emerged as a viable alternative livelihood for rural communities in Mayurbanja District, Odisha, under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA). This World Bank-assisted initiative has supported tribal self-help groups and user groups in adopting aquaculture as a sustainable income source. Through capacity-building programs, exposure visits, and technical support, beneficiaries have successfully engaged in fish and prawn farming, enhancing food security and financial stability. The study evaluates the impact of freshwater prawn farming in two Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs) in Karanjia and Shyamakhunta blocks, where genetically improved fish and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (scampi) were introduced. Despite challenges such as erratic weather and fluctuating water conditions, both sites demonstrated promising survival and growth rates, with MIP2 yielding superior production due to favorable water availability and market proximity. Economic analysis confirmed the feasibility and profitability of integrating freshwater prawn farming with modern aquaculture techniques.

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Wed, 05 Mar 2025 01:35:15 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1382
14th Asian fisheries and Aquaculture Forum: Early bird closes 10 November https://enaca.org/?id=1366

The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) will be held from 12-15 February 2025 in New Delhi, India. Submission of abstracts has been extended until 5 November, and early bird registration closes on 10 November, so get in quick!

The forum is a scientific meeting organised by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) once every three years to understand the global trends and address issues and challenges faced by the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The main purpose of this Forum is to provide an international platform for eminent scientists, young researchers, and other stakeholders across the globe to share their research experiences and innovative ideas. By facilitating the exchange of diverse range of knowledge and expertise, the Forum with the Theme ‘Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific’ aims to address key issues towards developing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

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Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:34:50 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1366
Revolutionising Aquaculture in Fiji through Innovation https://enaca.org/?id=1364

Presentation on opportunities to transform Fijian aquaculture: Challenges, innovative technologies, and nature-based solutions, by Chinthaka Hewavitharane (Pacific Community), Tekata Taoisi and Prashneel Chandra (Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji). Presented at the Inception Workshop for the project "Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation in Asia-Pacific: Support to the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub", 4-5 June 2024, Bangkok.

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Wed, 14 Aug 2024 10:14:27 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1364
Innovative Aquaculture & Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture: The Philippines https://enaca.org/?id=1363

Presentation on opportunities to transform aquaculture in the Philippines: Challenges, innovations and nature-based solutions by Wilfredo Cruz and Sammy Malvas, Bureau of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources, Department of Agriculture, The Philippines. Presented at the Inception Workshop for the project "Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation in Asia-Pacific: Support to the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub", 4-5 June 2024, Bangkok.

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Tue, 13 Aug 2024 03:52:59 +0000 https://enaca.org/?id=1363