Aquaculture especially shrimp farming has significant contribution to the economy of Bangladesh. The southwest coastal area is more prominent for commercial shrimp farming due to its auspicious environment, higher economic returns, nutrition value and for employment opportunity. The present study estimates the socioeconomic status and financial profitability of small-scale shrimp farming in selected areas of Khulna district. One hundred (100) shrimp farmers were selected and data were collected through direct interview method. Financial profitability was analyzed from the different point of view. The study revealed that about 35% farmers lie in prime working age group. Most of the farmers completed primary level of education while a few of them were illiterate. Family size of 65 % farmer’s was medium and 40% farmer’s main occupation was shrimp farming. Study also revealed that gross profit margin was high i.e. 59% indicating that farmers did well in managing their farm and farmers has more to cover for operating, financing and other cost.  Break-even price for the small scale shrimp worked out Tk. 311 per kg while break-even production was found 155 kg per acre. Benefit cost ratio and net profit margin were found more than one and positive respectively, indicated that small scale shrimp farming was commercially profitable. The research concludes that there is ample scope and possibility for sustaining and developing the small scale shrimp farming in the coastal area of Bangladesh.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(1): 104-110, April 2018

Adoption of scientific management practice is the pre-condition for increasing productivity in any farm business. This study estimates the level of scientific aquaculture management practice (SAMP) adoption, factor affecting adoption and its relation with productivity. Sixty aquaculture farms were selected from 3 upazilas of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Adoption level was measured by following Sengupta (1967) while Tobit regression was used to assess the determinants of adoption level. Polynomial regression was employed to show the relationship among farm size, adoption level and productivity. Result revealed that average SAMP adoption level was 54% where 53% farmers were medium adopter. Training, experience, education and extension service had significant positive effect on level of adoption. Productivity was significantly higher for those farmers who adopted more SAMP. Adoption level, productivity and profitability of small farmers were higher than that of large farmers. The study suggests farmers for adopting scientific management practices in order to increase the aquaculture productivity and profitability.

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The poultry meat industry is primarily dominated by broilers, and conventional broiler meat is claimed to be malicious to human health and environment since it is produced using hazardous feeds and other dietary supplements. This study aimed to evaluate consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for safe broiler chicken meat following a contingent valuation model (CVM). Also, consumers’ consumption and different types of perceptions on safe broiler meat were assessed from the data collected among 300 consumers in Bangladesh. Consumers’ health and environmental perception of safe broiler meat are found to be high, indicating that they are more concerned about these attributes in the case of consuming broiler meat. The results reveal that conventional broiler meat losses its appeal to consumers after a certain income level and is mainly consumed by lower- and middle-income groups. This study divulges a unanimous demand for safe broiler meat among the consumers who intend to consume about 36% higher than their present consumption level if the availability was ensured in their local market. The average WTP premium for safe broiler meat is estimated to be about BDT 39.87 per kg. The consumers’ WTP is positively influenced by their education, income level, the current consumption of broiler chicken meat, health perception, and taste and nutrition perception. This study recommends meat producers, entrepreneurs, and farmers adjust their production and marketing plans by incorporating suitable quality control procedures to meet the unfilled consumer demand for safer broiler meat. Besides, slow-growing safer broiler chicken needs to be introduced to improve meat’s taste and nutritional aspects.