Can Bangladeshi pangasius farmers comply with the requirements of aquaculture certification?

Globally, Bangladesh is the fifth largest aquaculture producer, with pangasius (Pangasianodon hypopthalamus) contributing 18 % of the total aquaculture production. This production is characterized by unregulated farming practices, domestic trade without value addition, product development, or export. In this paper, the Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework of the FAO was used to assess the competency of Bangladeshi pangasius farmers by comparing their practices with the indicators of farming practices prescribed by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). A survey of 150 farmers was undertaken that investigated the SAFA dimensions of good governance, environmental integrity, production and economics, and social well-being. Of 57 indicators, only 35 % were met at the best/good level, most of which occurred in the production and economic (47 %) and environmental dimension (40 %) and the least in the social dimension (29 %). Therefore, improvement of farming practices in all of the SAFA dimensions is required, with social and environmental dimensions demanding the most attention. Aquaculture certification for Bangladeshi pangasius farmers also requires improvements in legal frameworks and the involvement of value chain actors. Under a research and development initiative, one method to improve compliance is to develop a best practices approach for cluster agribusiness cooperation in farmer groups that have to be contractually bound to processing plants. This can spread and make sale at the potential international whitefish market