Patterns of trap pond management of small-scale farmers in Yasothon province, Thailand | |
| Author | Nookrai Pholwieng |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AQ-01-19 |
| Subject(s) | Fish ponds|xManagement--Thailand--Yasothon Ponds--Management--Thailand--Yasothon |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-01-19 |
| Abstract | A study on trap pond management by small-scale farmers was carried out from January to April, 2001 in four major agro-ecosystems (e.g. (1) lowland rice fields far from small water bodies, (2) lowland rice fields near small water bodies, (3) lowland rice fields far from large water bodies and (4) lowland rice fields near large water bodies) coveting a total of 120 households in ten villages of two districts (Kham Khuan Kaeo and Kho Wang) in Yasothon province. The objectives were to assess the patterns of trap pond management and utilization of wild fish production by small-scale farmers and to recommend suitable strategies for improving trap pond management. The results of the study showed that there is an increasing trend of trap pond excavation especially in the group near large water bodies in Kho Wang district. The trap ponds had different sizes depending on belief or experience of farmer. Nearly 100 % of trap ponds were dug in a rectangular shape, while the average size was 147 m2 (ranged 6 to 2,100 m 2 ) and the average depth 2.6 m (ranged 1 to 4 m). Most old trap ponds (aged more than 15 years) were dug by manual labours, but this has changed to machinery use 15 years ago. Some respondents (23.3 %) had still intended to dig more trap ponds in the future to increase income and fish production for their households especially in the group near and far from small water bodies in Kham Khuan Kaeo district. Most trap pond management methods practised by farmers had 5 different methods. The most common management practice was pond preparation by putting tree branches and logs (especially, old logs because it did not have a bad smell and fish could easily avoid predators) into the trap pond to provide habitat for the wild fish, to prevent theft and to prevent livestock entering the trap ponds. Wild fish yield obtained from trap ponds was dominated by three main species: Snakehead (57.4 % of the total catch), climbing perch (20.3 %) and walking catfish (15.2 %) respectively. Total average yield per square was about 0.67 kg/m2 /yr (6,700 kg/ha/yr) and total average production per household was 73 kgs/hh/yr. The wild fish production was utilized 5 ways: sale, household consumption, giving to neighbours, preservation and restocking. Sale made up the highest proportion. The farmers had an average income of Bt 2,189 from selling fish from trap ponds (4 % of total income). Farmers have never changed their open trap ponds into close trap ponds but some farmers have changed their trap pond management practices by stocking hatchery breed fish or/and feeding fish in trap ponds especially the year had poor rainfall and IOw flood level. Most respondents said they would not change trap ponds into other aquaculture systems in the future as trap pond fishery plays a very important role in their livelihood because it is very low investment and not requiring a lot of care. However, most farmers learned trap pond management practices from their parents. Therefore, Government and other related organizations should study the trap pond fishery in detail to develop improved management practices for sustainable wild fish production. |
| Year | 2001 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-01-19 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Yakupitiyage, Amararatne;Demaine, Harvey; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Edwards, Peter; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | DANIDA; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology,2001 |