Projects - M (Morgina) Akter

Developing feeding strategy for Indian major carps and tilapia polyculture

Aquaculture is of major and increasing importance to global food security, particularly in Low Income, Food Deficit Countries, where it also serves as a significant contribution to poverty alleviation. Carps are the most important aquaculture species in volume globally and particularly in Southeast Asia. Carp culture is mainly in semi-intensive ponds. Feed is the major nutrient input for aquaculture, constitutes 50-70% of operational cost and determines largely the profitability of aquaculture.

Polyculture is one of the most common farming system in Southeast Asia for Carps but also is a growing trend for tilapia. It provides resilience in the farming against many uncertainties. However it also creates challenges to administer efficient feed application. Optimizing feeding strategy can largely improve feed efficiency, increase profitability and also help is using our limited resources in a more sustainable approach.

This PhD project will harness the best feeding methods in carp-tilapia polyculture systems which is the predominant farming system across Bangladesh and a growing trend in neighboring.