Profitability and adoption of improved shrimp farming technologies in the aquatic agricultural systems of southwestern Bangladesh

This paper assesses factors influencing adoption of new shrimp aquaculture technologies within aquatic-agricultural farming systems in southwestern Bangladesh. The impacts of three new technologies were assessed: two Modified Traditional Technologies (MTT 1 and MTT 2) and a Closed System Technology (CST). A total of 789 farmers from 10 sub-districts in Khulna Division were surveyed randomly, including a control group of 350 farmers using traditional technologies. Farmers gained significantly higher (P < 0.05) net returns when practicing improved shrimp farming systems as compared to traditional farms. The profitability of CST farms was more than double that of MTT farms, and the profitability of MTT farms was more than that of traditional farms. Similar (P > 0.05) financial benefit was derived from adoption of MTT1 and MTT2 technologies. Feed use, stocking density, gher size and white spot syndrome virus incidence were key factors associated with the economic returns of CST farms, while various supplementary feed inputs made a significant positive contribution towards increased return for the MTT farms. Lime was an important input for increased return both for MTTs and traditional farms. Farmer age and access to training influenced adoption of both technologies, and gher size and access to financing were significant for the more intensive Closed System Technology (CST).