Demo Pond

Demonstration ponds (demo ponds) have an important role as communitybased resource centers. They show the results from the improved technologies and practices related to fish, especially Carp-Tilapia-Mola polyculture, and horticulture for other community members including beneficiary and non-beneficiary households. They are also the sources of technical information on the quality inputs for the community members. These demonstration ponds are also being used as learning centres for organising practical training, coaching, and linkage events for beneficiary households (BHHs) related to improved technologies and practices. It is expected that it will also be continued as the local resource centers in the long run beyond the phasing out of the Suchana programme.

About 30% of Suchana BHHs have access to ponds and other water bodies. These households were targeted for training in pro-poor, nutrition-sensitive aquaculture and fisheries, in addition to vegetable gardening. The training on nutritionsensitive aquaculture mainly focuses on Carp-Tilapia-Mola-polyculture, along with locally available small indigenous fish (SiS).

Jesmine’s success story

Jesmine Begum is a young girl from Adittypur of Sylhet. She had to discontinue her studies after class 8 due to restrictions imposed by society and her family. Her family consisted of ten members, and did not earn enough to sustain themselves. Her parents had to ask her to engage in income generating activities (IGA) from a very young age.

Suchana selected Jesmine as a potential demo farmer as well as an adolescent peer leader in 2018. She received training on aquaculture activities and decided to utilise their 10 decimal pond for fish farming. Implementing effective and climatesmart polyculture methods, within 10 months she finished one fish culture cycle.

She farmed 130 kgs of fish in that first cycle. Jesmine earned BDT 25,750 from fish sales during that cycle. She could finance her brothers’ education and her father’s healthcare, and invest in more fish fingerlings and poultry from her earnings. She plans on expanding production in future cycles and earning a steady income from aquaculture activities.

Jesmine’s success has been recognised by upazila officials and her community, especially women who frequently visit her for her advice on fish culture. Jesmine’s success was lauded by representatives from the Department of Fisheries (DoF) in Sylhet. They trained her on catfish culture, and recognised her work as an exemplary entrepreneur of Carp polyculture. Jesmine’s success inspired her peers to engage in entrepreneurial endeavours and continues to support them with her demo pond.

“I had never imagined that I would be able to earn an income. I am delighted to be able to contribute to my family’s income, and contribute to their improved nutrition now.”

Jesmine Begum, Adittypur, Sylhet

Facilitation of demo pond: Carp-Tilapia-Mola polyculture

64,681 individuals received support for improved aquaculture practices in the following ways:

• Improved technologies in fish fingerling production
• Sustainable homestead aquaculture for improved nutrition
• Building linkages with fish hatcheries and fish nursery operators
• Building linkages with patilwalas (fish fingerling hawkers) and fish nursery operators
• Fingerling transportation and stocking technologies for patilwalas
• HFP aquaculture and nutrition orientation training for front line field staff

Success of demo ponds: Carp-Tilapia-Mola polyculture

• Improved aquaculture and nutrition practices have led to improved dietary diversity for 55,887 individuals, especially in women and children
• Over two-thirds of 121,238 beneficiaries adopted improved aquaculture practices for Carp-poly culture within one year of Suchana interventions. The combination of training and support has resulted in double production of fish
• Surplus production has allowed small-scale fish farmers in 25,000 households to generate income through fish sales
• Women’s engagement in aquaculture has improved their access to markets and empowered them to handle family finances

Contact us at:

suchana.bangladesh@savethechildren.org

House CWN (A) 35, Road 43, Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212