Status of polyculture pangasius hypophthalmus with Carps in Jhikargacha Upazila of Jessore District, Bangladesh

The present study was conducted in Jhikargacha sub-district of Jessore district with the view to evaluating status of polyculture of Pangasius hypophthalmus with carps from July to December 2012. The mean age and experience of the respondents was 41.28±12.19 and 9.48±3.12 years respectively. Culture pond size was 0.41±0.21 ha (0.343 to 0.478 at 95% CL). 67.50% culture ponds were leased ponds and mean yearly lease value was 535364.70±468224.20 BDT/ha. All the ponds were rectangular in shape and perennial in nature. During preparation of pond, all the ponds were dried by draining out the water. Liming was done at 229.30±118.70 kg/ha (pre-stocking) and 250 kg/ha (post-stocking). Application rate of various fertilizers during post stocking management were recorded as155.12±79.10 kg/ha (cow dung); 158.27±79.85 kg/ha (urea); and 79.90±42.93 kg/ha (TSP). Five species of fishes were found to be stocked at the rate of 7377 individuals/ha including 93.10% P. hypophthalmus seeds and 6.90% other carps. Supplementary feeding was done daily and the application rates were 444.23±236.41 kg/ha (rice bran), 228.29±116.96 kg/ha (mustard oil cake), and 912.91±468.05 kg/ha (commercial pangus feeds, pellet). Average fish production was found 6672.84 kg/ha. All the fishes grown in the study area were marketed to fish landing centers and markets of three districtsChuadanga (47.50%), Dhaka (30%) and Jessore (22.50%). The average cost-benefit ratio was 1:1.15. High mortality, low growth of seeds, and high input price were the major problems.