Africa & Asia: Novel feeding strategy boosts fish farmers’ incomes by 22 percent

Published 2021년 7월 16일

Tridge summary

A study by Wageningen University and WorldFish has found that feeding aquaculture fish with cheaper alternatives that also benefit pond organisms can increase yields and decrease costs, leading to a 22% increase in income for fish farmers in Bangladesh. This method, which results in a healthier pond ecosystem, involves using feed with more carbohydrates that are partially undigested by the fish, which are then converted into nutrients by pond bacteria. The researchers believe that improving the sustainability of fish feed can help fight poverty and ensure food security in Africa and Asia, as aquaculture is a crucial source of income and protein in the region.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

So concludes a study by Wageningen University and WorldFish, which aimed to establish more economical ways of increasing aquaculture yields, as a means to alleviate poverty and increase food security in Africa and Asia. In particular they looked at feeds that not only target the fish but also the pond organisms that help break down waste and produce natural feed for the fish. As different ingredients are used, this feed is cheaper than conventional alternatives. While it has less direct nutritional value for the fish, it allows the pond to provide more high-quality feed. “This makes it very attractive for a fish farmer,” said Wageningen researcher Marc Verdegem. “The fish production is the same, if not higher, and the fish farmer pays less for the feed”. In Bangladesh, for example, fish farmers using this method reported a 22 percent increase in income. The feed used in the study contains more carbohydrates, which are only partially digested by the fish. Bacteria in the pond ...

Source: Thefishsite