Impacts of technological interventions on fish production and biodiversity of seasonal floodplains in Bangladesh

The Community-based Fish Culture in Seasonal Floodplains and Irrigation Systems (CBFC) project is a five year research project supported by the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF), with the aim of increasing productivity of seasonally occurring water bodies through aquaculture. The project has been implemented in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Mali and Vietnam, where technical and institutional options for community based aquaculture have been tested. The project began in 2005 and was completed in March 2010. The objective of the study was to determine the impacts of technological interventions in the floodplains on fish yield and biodiversity benefiting the poor fisher folk and other community people. Technological interventions for fish culture in the floodplains included (a) the installation of low-cost large meshed bamboo fencing at water inlet and outlet points, and setting of ring culverts for maintaining suitable levels of water for fish culture without hampering the production of rice in the upland areas of the floodplains (b) stocking of larger fingerlings at suitable stocking densities of endemic (rohu, catla, mrigal) and exotic (silver carp, bighead carp, common carp/mirror carp) species at 31-48 kg/ha (c) post stocking management; use of extra fencing during over flooding and mobile guarding using boats (d) harvesting management; regulations in harvest for certain period, use of multiple harvesting techniques. These interventions were carried out through CB participation with initial technological and financial support from the Challenge Program Project (CP35).Flood plains, Freshwater aquaculture

CPWF publication policies and guidelines: Version 1.2

The Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) was launched in 2002 as a reform initiative of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The CPWF aims to increase the resilience of social and ecological systems through better water management for food production (crops, fisheries, and livestock). Since 2002, the program has evolved from a range of research projects to an integrated research program that focuses on specific development challenges in six river basins around the world: Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile and Volta. Publishing and documenting research is an important part of the research for development process. It is increasingly recognized that interim results can be important for development practitioners and that communication strategies need to be integrated from the beginning of the research process rather than seen as a by-­‐product For this reason, the CPWF strongly encourages the publication of research results, both intermediary and final. It is important to share the CPWF's findings and demonstrate our achievements to our stakeholders, extension agents, donors, policy makers, and other researchers.The guidelines should be seen as a complement to the CPWF Information and Communication Strategy and a range of other guidelines that have been developed including: • Internal knowledge-­‐sharing guidelines; • Identity guidelines (to be developed); and • Working Paper series, notes for contributors. The guidelines are intended for CPWF partners working in projects or in the Topic Working Groups. These policies and guidelines should be seen as a work in progress and will be updated as and when necessar

Commentaries

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67348/2/10.1177_00030651970450031204.pd