STREAM Journal

Contents

Approaches to understanding pond-dike systems in Asia: the POND-LIVE project approach Dave Little, Marc Verdegem and Roel Bosma	4
The contribution of fish ponds to nutrient cycling in integrated farming systems P.N. Muendo, J.J. Stoorvogel and M.C.J. Verdegem	6
Improving the contribution of fishfarming to livelihoods in Northeast Thailand Chittra Arjinkit, Roel Bosma, Danai Turongrouang	9
Benefits of pond-dike systems in Bangladesh M S Kabir, M A Wahab and M C J Verdegem	11
Common carp increases rohu production in farmers ponds Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, Md. Abdul Wahab and Marc C.J. Verdegem	14
Improving pond-dike farming systems in the Mekong delta, Vietnam; the Can Tho approach Dang Kieu Nhan, Le Thanh Duong, Le Thanh Phong, Roel H. Bosma and Marc C.J. Verdegem	16
Fuzzy pathways for farm development in Vietnam Roel H. Bosma, Le Thanh Phong, and Dang Kieu Nhan.	18
About the STREAM Journal	20

Research managers, researchers, agricultural development planners, extension advisers and leaders of farmer groups would find this issue of the Journal helpful.

In the next 25 years, Earth is expected to have 2 billion more people. A population of 8 billion will need to be matched by the production of more food that every person can afford. Opening more arable land and using more fresh water are no longer desirable options. Intensification seems necessary, but it raises concerns over ecological, economic and social sustainability. As well, the poorer groups in society may not have access to the capital or knowledge needed to implement advanced, intensive, usually mono-culture farming techniques. Integrated farming, an old practice in Asia, offers new hopes.

This issue contains 5 practical on-farm studies on integrated farming systems, 4 in Asia, 1 in Africa. Results from two projects that aimed to increase the efficiency by which Asian integrated pond-dike systems use resources, especially on-farm resources, are described. The Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam studies show that integration and diversification increase farm productivity and incomes. As part of the project, farmers and scientists worked together to identify a range of technologies that improve livelihoods and reinforce the good impacts of integrated aquaculture�agriculture systems on the environment.

The studies were under two projects called �POND� supported by Wageningen University of The Netherlands and �Pond-Live� funded by the European Union. The first article explains the project approach. The last article describes a number of economic and social forces that are exerting important influences on farm household strategies and, in general, agricultural development in Vietnam and the role of integrated aquaculture-agriculture in such situation. The studies were carried out by staff and students of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Can Tho University, Thailand�s Sisaket College of Agriculture and Technology, Stirling University and Wageningen University. For research managers and field researchers, details of the results are in the book: Fish Pond in Farming Systems (2007). Wageningen Publishers.