IPRS
IPRS : In-Pond Raceway System
Fish farming is one of the oldest forms of agriculture that has been practiced since the evolution of the human race. This sector didn’t see noticeable innovation for a long time. However, with the evolution of modern science and technologies many significant innovations, tests and trials have been performed in this industry. Many of these have shown significant promise. RAS, Biofloc, bottom clean are a few to name some. Those technologies and methods have shown good results in the past when implemented correctly. IPRS, however, is by far the best technology that the world has ever seen. It gives such an extraordinary outcome that it often seems like a fairy tale. The fish production rate of IPRS technology can be considered the ultimate solution to solve the protein shortage issue of the huge population of Bangladesh. IPRS can truly be considered to achieve the sustainable development goal of the Government of the peoples' Republic of Bangladesh.
In-pond Raceway System (IPRS) is not essentially a new technology. IPRS rather combines features and benefits of raceway technology, cage culture, RAS, pond culture, and other existing aquaculture methods to efficiently produce more fishes. It was developed by Auburn University (Alabama, USA) and Clemson University (South Carolina, USA) between the late 90s and early 2000s. This technology was adopted and implemented in China, Vietnam, Mexico, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Bangladesh. However the biggest IPRS project in South Asia is in Bangladesh.
How IPRS Works
In IPRS or In-Pond Raceway System fish takes up little raceway-like areas of the total project. The other area of the project is used to recycle and clean the water to ensure a constant riverine flow of healthy and optimum quality water with more dissolved oxygen in it. In IPRS technology the aerators are used in such a way that it increases plankton production and the presence of useful bacteria, and accelerates the process of waste removal from water. It also helps with proper and timely feed management throughout the pond so all the fishes get enough food whenever they need it.
This essentially ensures two major things: (a). fishes get enough healthy food and oxygen, and (b). they almost always on the move against the water flow. These two things together help the proper and faster growth of all the fishes in the project.
Challenges of IPRS
Everything in this world has its benefits as well as disadvantages. IPRS fish farming technology has some of it as well. Even though, compared with the benefits we get from this promising technology the challenges are very slim, we'll still try to shed light on some of the challenges that exist with this method.
A very high initial investment is one of the biggest challenges of IPRS fish farming. Whereas farmers can start biofloc with a couple hundred thousand takas, at least one crore taka is necessary to successfully set up a profitable IPRS fish farm.
Another challenge of IPRS is getting the same-sized fish of the same kind. This is a tricky one and one can't foresee this challenge unless they have proper training or guidance which was not easily available in Bangladesh until Hossain Agro came into this trade.
As IPRS is a huge project, it needs a big number of people to manage the project smoothly. It also needs to ensure security measures and setups to handling emergencies. A number of motor-run machines, like aerators and fish feeders, are used throughout the project. These machines and other electrical equipment consume a lot of electricity. Therefore this project requires a high amount of overhead to ensure all these facilities which can be very challenging if the entrepreneur doesn't start with a big investment.
Benefits of IPRS fish farming
The entry barrier into In-pond Raceway System (IPRS) is considerably higher than the other modern fish farming technics. However, the benefits we can get from this new kind of fish farming technology are absolutely astounding. This technology is highly profitable and beneficial both in terms of profitability, ease of farming, and health benefits. One of the prime benefits ofIPRS fish farming is we can get high yields of fish in a relatively smaller area. By the traditional fish farming method, we can farm about 400 fishes in one bigha size pond. With Bifloc farming technology, we can farm about 3000 fishes in the same area. This technology really did change the way farmers farm fishes and they're getting about 8 times more fishes. Everyone was already very happy with this level of outcome.
The innovation and research however were not stopped as the demand for protein for the rising population of the world was growing. Then the researchers developed the IPRS fish farming method and started to get a jaw-dropping yield of about 10,000 fishes in just one bigha pond! That means approximately 3 times more fishes than biofloc and 25 times more fishes than the traditional method. Besides, in the IPRS method fishes are fed high-quality soy-based food which is safer and more beneficial for human health. It is also easier, faster, and cheaper to harvest fishes as the fishes live in small raceway-like areas.
Undoubtedly IPRS is the future of fish farming and in Bangladesh, farmers can get the most out of this technology if implemented the right way. However, farmers need quality equipment, world-class training, and practical guidance in order to implement this kind of huge project. Hossain Agro is the biggest fish farming equipment supplier and training provider in this sector in Bangladesh. Farmers can get all kinds of assistance regarding IPRS fish farming in Bangladesh from Hossain Agro.
