WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 27 The most commonly used brands of pellet and extrusion machines are Chia Tung , Muyang, Andriz, Ideah, Awila , Bowler, Jiangsu Zhengchang. Machine suppliers provide maintenance services during the warranty period, generally one year. There are 2-3 local machine service providers that assist feed companies in solving common mechanical problems. Feed from mills is distributed to farmers by feed dealers, who earn a commission of 6-7 percent (Fig. 8). Most companies provide credit to feed dealers. Farmers may also receive feed on credit from dealers and the quantity of credit extended from dealers to farmers is much higher than the amount received by dealers from feed manufacturers. Dealers typically add an extra 1-3 percent to the retail price when extending credit to farmers, depending on the duration over which the credit is extended and the characteristics of the customer. Large feed companies typically partner with around 450-500 dealers, while medium-size companies work with 200-300 and mills with only regional coverage typically work with 20-100. Most dealers sell feed from several companies, although some dealers work exclusively for a single company. Feed dealers, retailers and technical representatives of commercial feed companies provide embedded services to farmers. Use of commercial pelleted feed is now very common among commercial fish farmers (Fig. 9). Most farmers feed twice daily but feed requirements are rarely calculated properly according to body weight through timely sampling. However, farmers using floating feed are able to measure feed requirements through satiation feeding. Outlook The growth of commercial aquaculture and commercial aquafeed production in Bangladesh over the preceding 5-10 years has been remarkable and yet there is considerable room for further expansion of both sectors over the medium to long term. The rate of expansion in the production and uptake of manufactured feeds has been so rapid that the industry has not yet matured fully. It is likely that considerable consolidation will take place among feed producers over the coming years as farmers become more sophisticated in feed management and preferences and the benefits of higher quality feeds become more readily apparent, forcing companies producing inferior product to raise the bar or exit the industry. In the meantime, educating farmers on good feed management practices and enforcing existing regulations designed to ensure the quality of manufactured feed can help to support the aquaculture sector in Bangladesh as it continues to expand and modernize. Notes Mamun-Ur-Rashid, Ben Belton and Manjurul Karim, WorldFish, Bangladesh Office, House 22B, Road 7, Block F, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh Michael Phillips, WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, 11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia Acknowledgments This research has been funded by USAID’s Feed the Future Project, by WorldFish. It is a contribution to the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish. References Ali, M.H., M.M. Haque and B. Belton. 2013. Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Sauvage, 1878) aquaculture in Bangladesh: an overview. Aquaculture Research 44:950-965. BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). 2007. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2005. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka. BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). 2012. Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2005. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka. Belton, B. and A. Azad. 2012. The characteristics and status of pond aquaculture in Bangladesh. Aquaculture 358-359:196-204. Belton, B., M. Karim, S. Thilsted, K.M. Jahan, W. Collis and M. Phillips. 2011. Review of Aquaculture and Fish Consumption in Bangladesh. Studies and Reviews 2011-53. Penang: The WorldFish Center. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2012. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Rome, Italy. TOP, FIGURE 8. Loading aquafeed at a large mill for distribution. BOTTOM, FIGURE 9. Feeding pangasius on a large farm.
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