Agrochemicals used in freshwater aquaculture in Jhenaidah district, Bangladesh

The present experiment was conducted in order to investigate the use of agrochemicals in freshwater aquaculture with emphasis on fish health management. The selected area was Mahespur upazila under Jhenaidah district and the study duration was six months. The main group was fifty fish farmers and the data were collected through interview with fish farmers and key informants (chemical seller). Ten categories of chemicals were identified that are used by fish farmers for various purposes such as pond preparation, water quality management, controlling diseases, supplying oxygen, killing fish predators, Ten pharmaceutical companies were found to provide the agrochemicals to fulfill the farmers need. These companies are Novartis Anmal Health Ltd, Fishtech (BD) Ltd, SK+F BD Ltd, Renata Ltd, ACI Animal Health, Opsonin Pharma Ltd, Eon Animal Health Products Ltd, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sciencetech Agro Industries Ltd, Rals. In the study area some kinds of diseases were founded such as Epizotic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) in Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Black spot in Stinging cat fish, skin diseases, gill damage, tail and fin rot in Yellow tail catfish (Pangasius pangasius). For highest stocking density tilapia and pangus were mostly affected by diseases in winter. Farmers use various chemicals such as for water quality management agriculture lime, Geotox, JV Zeolite, Mega Zeo Bio, Aquakleen and Biomin, as antibiotic they use Novamix 101, Erocot, Captor, Oxysentin 20%, Renamycin, Aquamycin and Oxysentin 20% are antibiotics with different trade names were seen in the market as well as used by the fish farmers in the study area. The fish farmers use a wide variety of disinfectants in freshwater aquaculture. Timsen, Polgard plus, Formalin, Bleaching powder, EDTA are found available in all the shops of Mahespur. Formalin is used to control protozoan diseases. Virex is used to destroy virus and bacteria. Fish farmers use oxygen suppliers to increase the oxygen level in the water body. Oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide are major active ingredients of such chemical. The recovery of fish diseases was found 80-90% in the study area. During field observation many problems were identified in case of using agrochemicals which included lack of skill and knowledge of farmers about the application, withdrawal period of agrochemicals and drugs and some adverse effects on fish and human health. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2019, 3(2), 63-76