Economic, social and environmental implications of rice-shrimp interface in Bangladesh: A feasibility study

• Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh

Shrimp farming has contributed significantly to the economy of Bangladesh through export earnings and increasing employment both on and off-farm. However, the farming has been detrimental to the environment with destruction of mangrove forests and reductions in crop production (rice) and green vegetation. Expanding shrimp cultivation consistent with ecologically sustainable development is a priority area identified by the government. The primary objective of this project is to identify gaps in information and to undertake an integrated social, environmental and economic assessment that could be used readily to address the question of the sustainability of rice-shrimp farming in Bangladesh, and other similar integrated farming systems.