DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL AQUAPONICS UNITS IN MYANMAR (BURMA)

Matthew S. Recsetar*, Kevin Fitzsimmons
 
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
 msrecs@email.arizona.edu
 

The country of Myanmar (Burma) has been developing and changing at a rapid rate since the military handed power back to the civilian government in 2010.  With the transfer of power came deregulation and opportunity for development.  Through a USAID grant in collaboration with the University of Arizona and Auburn University began a project aimed to develop a sustainable seafood industry for Burma.  Working with the Myanmar Fisheries Federation, the University of Yangon and Pathein University as well as dozens of Burmese fish farmers, the project took a multi-faceted approach to build the industry from the ground up. While there were many projects going on within the greater scope, my role was to help students and faculty at the University of Yangon through demonstration and the building of numerous experimental aquaponics systems.  

While there were obstacles in acquiring the traditional materials to build aquaponic systems, we settled on a design based on available materials.  The system we went with was a floating raft system that could be built with locally available materials.  No polyethylene or other plastic tanks were available, so we chose fiberglass tanks for the grow beds and fish tanks and designed biofilters with plastic trash bins and crushed clam and oyster shells donated from a nearby fish farm.  Since many Burmese individuals are self-sustaining, we wanted to demonstrate that individual aquaponics systems could be built without having to order parts or materials from out of country.  In addition, we wanted to allow students to demonstrate potential capabilities for aquaponics within Myanmar in comparison to hydroponics.  Direct comparison between systems with and without fish will show the sustainability and potential cost savings for investment in aquaponics.