Myanmar is among the poorest countries in the world facing undernutrition and stunting in broad areas of the country. Especially in rural areas, the availability of essential proteins, minerals, and vitamins year-round is insecure. Additional compounding drivers are land-use issues and a lack of modernisation in the agricultural sector for decades. Small-scale or backyard aquaponics provide up to 10 times higher yields than traditional paddy fields and can be operated in a staggered production securing availability of nutrition all-year long. Home-made supplements such as insect feeds and fertilizer contribute to a self-sufficient production. Solar panels connected to a 12V or 24V car-battery is common and easy to use to circulate water between fish tank and plant container via pump. Plus, a breeding program for genetically improved farmed Tilapia (GIFT) is already established by World fish and the Department of Fisheries in order to distribute subsidized brood stocks and fingerlings, which makes GIFT available for small-scale farmer.
The overarching goal of this research is to analyse productivity and profitability of different aquaponic systems, such as raft-, gravel, and NFT-systems or mixed systems country-wide. Therefore, three Aquaponic systems are set up at the University of Yangon Research Center stocked with GIFT as it is one of the most suitable and well-known fish species in aquaponic. First objective is to proof economic efficiency by accounting costs for investment and maintenance against revenue from sales, but also applicability in Myanmar. Second is to investigate optimal order of crop rotation and fish stocking over a three-years period. Third objective is to explore feed production systems utilizing protein-rich insects and left-over greens.
Basic affordable aquaponic systems driven by solar energy and using locally available crops are thought to generate income opportunities and will support the availability of nutrition in form of fresh vegetables and fish.