Small indigenous fish species (SIS) are very rich in micronutrients. Particularly mola, Amblypharyngodon mola is extremely rich in vitamin A, Ca, Iron, Zinc etc. Therefore, SIS have high demand and market price in Bangladesh, India and South Asian countries. Stocking broodstock of mola in ponds and semi-closed open waters in polyculture useful to get higher production of mola and other SIS. Most of the homestead ponds are still dependent on fingerling traders locally called ‘Patilwala’ for carp and other fish seed stocking. In spite of high demand of mola farming, lack of seed or broodstock of mola in the existing fish seed marketing system is the major constrain. To include mola broodfish in the existing fish seed supply channel.
A participatory research was implemented under BMGF funded IDEA project of WorldFish in northwest Bangladesh during January to August 2022. Training and practical demonstration was organized for 18 fingerling traders on mola culture system and technology, live mola collection, sorting and transportation. Baseline and end line data were collected for fingerling traders, who involved in mola trading and farmers, who purchased mola from traders.
About 40% of trained fingerling traders (07) adopted the technology and disseminated mola broodstock successfully to 33 farmers. The adopted fingerling traders further motivated about 60% fingerling traders, who didn’t received training to disseminate the mola broodstock trading and through them 10 famers stock mola broodfish. About 30 sources of mola broodstock were identified in different places. ‘Dhulia Beel’ in Nilphamari Sadar found as a major source of mola broodfish and could be use as mola broodstock center. Lack of knowledge and training, unavailability of mola broodstock, high market price of mola broodstock were the major constrains. Fingerling traders are found as key player to promote mola with other commonly cultured fish by large number of farmers. To trained and motivate them, initiative should be taken Govt. and other development organizations.