Aquaculture production in Bangladesh has experienced significant growth in the past three decades, but comparatively little is known about the organization and behavior of the farming segment of the aquaculture value chain in Bangladesh. We conducted a comprehensive statistically representative study with 721 farmers representing four categories: only fish (FO), prawn and fish (PF), shrimp and fish (SF), and prawn, shrimp, and fish (PSF) from seven districts in south and southwest Bangladesh between November 2020 and February 2021to address this knowledge gap. Key findings include: (1) A notable 11% increase in the number of aquaculture farmers and a 15% rise in waterbodies over the past decade. (2) On average, farmers cultivated 8.9 different aquatic species per farm, with fish contributing 84% and crustaceans contributing 16% to total production (Table 1). (3) The mean farm output reached 3284 kg/ha, exhibiting a higher (p ≤ 0.05) level in FO farms compared to others. (4 ) Shrimp demonstrated susceptibility to diseases compared to fish and prawn; however, only 19% of farmers adopted measures to enhance crustacean survival. (5 ) The shift from shrimp to prawn and crustaceans to fish resulted in intensified production systems, with supplementary feed usage increased (3.24 t/ha) significantly over the past decade. (6) A mere 0.55% of farmers reported losses, spoilage, or wastage of aquatic products during transportation, with the volume being minimal at just 0.52%. (7) Farming segments are predominantly family-owned and operated enterprise , generating 401,536 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the surveyed districts. (8) The farming segment demonstrates profitability, with an average benefit-cost ratio (BCR) standing at 1.98, signifying an almost twofold return in terms of benefits. The results indicate that the farming segment within the aquaculture value chain in Bangladesh is characterized by dynamism, ongoing transformation, and a relative level of efficiency. The findings from this study provide scientific evidence to support the improvement of aquaculture production interventions by researchers, development partners, and the government.