• About
  • Our Work
  • Join
  • Partner
  • Media
EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Sign-up for monthly updates on Winrock's work around the world.

VOLUNTEER BLOG

“I wouldn’t hesitate to return”

  • SHARE:
  • Copy

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Mike Frinsko, F2F Volunteer

This week’s blog post comes from Mike Frinsko, an aquaculture expert from North Carolina State University, who has volunteered three times with Winrock’s USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program. His most recent F2F assignment was focused on improving water quality management in fish ponds in Bangladesh. Below, he shares his impressions of the country and thoughts about his assignment:

My [F2F] assignment to provide aquaculture training in Bangladesh has been amazing! During my nearly 3 weeks here, I have had the pleasure and honor to work with a group of extension professionals from many organizations. This Train-the-Trainer (TOT) assignment was in partnership with the USDA’s Rural Enterprise for Alleviating Poverty (REAP-II) program and was aimed at enhancing the skills of aquaculture extension agents in the area of water quality management.

This assignment involved many days of intensive training in each of two principle aquaculture districts, Khulna and Mymensingh. Both areas are heavily developed with aquaculture on small land holdings. Most ponds produce fish on sites near to family homes and consist of one or two ponds of about 0.1 acres each. Fish production is important to the farmers as both an income generator for fish sold at market and as a source of fresh, high quality protein for their family.

Extension assistance is important, with each local Agent working with an average of 750 farmers! The farmers generally have little or no formal education in science, let alone aquaculture, so the extension program provides the needed technical information from which improved production practices can be received.

In the Khulna region, I met with producers that farmed both fish and freshwater prawns in an integrated farming system, which included vegetable production on the pond levees. Production occurred throughout the year, with most ponds being stocked during the time of my visit…the hatchery season.

In Mymensingh, I visited a farm that raised monosex Tilapia. These “all-male” fish grow very efficiently, putting all their nutrients into muscle production without the waste common in egg bearing females.

Every day found new and rewarding experiences exploring the culture and landscape of this beautiful country. While in Mymensingh, I’ll never forget the fish market located just off the railroad tracks, with sellers marketing fish live and on-ice as the train cars pass by. During sight visits to villages, the hospitality of the farmers was so wonderful as demonstrated by the obligatory offering of a fresh coconut hacked open by a sharp sickle to provide a drink of the sweet juice inside. The many visits to other farms and government fishery facilities were filled with good memories of the wonderful people of this most beautiful country.

Of the many countries I’ve worked/traveled, Bangladesh clearly faces some of the greatest challenges in the world. Yet, in this environment of “controlled chaos”, the Bangladeshi attitude is both realistic and positive…the “glass half full”. I believe it with such an outlook on the country’s future potential that belies its continued progress and advancement. It is something to behold to see strangers helping each other, as when the rickshaw driver overloaded with mangoes struggles up a bridge only to have a half dozen pedestrians help push him to the top and on his way. This is how I see Bangladesh moving…forward, selflessly. What a lesson for the world! Of course the superb staff of the Winrock office coordinated the experience to make it so enjoyable and productive. I wouldn’t hesitate to return!

-Mike Frinsko, F2F volunteer

Fish hatchery workers show off their hard work

Fish hatchery workers show off their hard work

Volunteer Mike Frinsko demonstrates water quality testing methods

Volunteer Mike Frinsko demonstrates water quality testing methods

Fish hatchery suppliers with carp fingerlings

Fish hatchery suppliers with carp fingerlings

Posted in Asia, Bangladesh, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged aquaculture, Bangladesh, Farmer-to-Farmer, international volunteer
ABOUT FARMER-TO-FARMER WINROCK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE

SUBSCRIBE TO POSTS

Loading

ARCHIVE

  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011

CATEGORIES

  • AET
  • Africa
    • Ghana
    • Senegal
  • Asia
  • Bangladesh
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Field Staff
  • Guinea
  • Kenya
  • Latin America
  • Mali
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Postharvest
  • Rural Livelihoods
  • Senegal
  • Spotlights
  • Volunteer Feedback
  • Volunteer of the Month
  • Winrock Staff
WinrockIntl
Tweets by @WinrockIntl
Follow @WinrockIntl

204 E 4th Street | North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114

ph +1 501 280 3000 | fx +1 501 280 3090

2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 | Arlington, Virginia 22202

ph +1 703 302 6500 | fx +1 703 302 6512

  • Contact
  • E-News Signup
  • Low Bandwidth
  • Code of Conduct
  • Winrock Privacy Statement
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
Copyright © 2015- Winrock International
DEV ENVIRONMENT