The impact of integrated aquaculture–agriculture on small-scale farm sustainability and farmers’ livelihoods: Experience from Bangladesh

► IAA significantly improves productivity, profitability and efficiency of farms. ► IAA adoption increased food and fish consumption and had positive nutrition effects. ► IAA improves ecological sustainability of farming through recycling of by-products. ► IAA increases diversification and cropping...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agricultural systems 2011-06, Vol.104 (5), p.392-402
Main Authors: Murshed-E-Jahan, Khondker, Pemsl, Diemuth E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agropisciculture
Asia
crop production
environmental impact
Farm productivity
farmers
fish production
food consumption
Food security
households
Integrated aquaculture-agriculture Technical efficiency Farm productivity Food security Nutrition Asia
Integrated aquaculture–agriculture
intensive farming
livelihood
net farm income
Nutrition
risk
small-scale farming
sustainable agriculture
Technical efficiency
training (people)
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Summary:► IAA significantly improves productivity, profitability and efficiency of farms. ► IAA adoption increased food and fish consumption and had positive nutrition effects. ► IAA improves ecological sustainability of farming through recycling of by-products. ► IAA increases diversification and cropping intensity resulting in higher resilience. Intensification of agriculture often requires external inputs, has negative environmental effects and increases risk, especially for small-scale producers. Integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) instead uses on-farm synergy effects of crop and fish production. The impact of long-term IAA training provided to small-scale farmers in Bangladesh is assessed using panel data from 260 project and 126 control farmers who were monitored from 2002/2003 to 2005/2006. We find that the training had a significant positive impact on farmers’ technical efficiency, total factor productivity and net incomes. These result in higher food consumption and better nutrition for trained households compared to control farmers.
ISSN:0308-521X
1873-2267
DOI:10.1016/j.agsy.2011.01.003