Weather index insurance: Lessons learned and best practices for Bangladesh

WorldFish and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) held a two-day workshop on the topic of Weather Index-Based Insurance: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Bangladesh. Weather index insurance is based on a predefined weather event which when triggered ensures automatic payout to farmers who have taken out insurance. For example, the climatic trigger could be a predefined consecutive number of days where rainfall is below a set level or when the floodwater level reaches above a certain point. Index insurance has been operating for about 10 years in many countries but is still at an early stage in Bangladesh, where there are two schemes currently being piloted and three other projects being developed. The aim of the two-day workshop was twofold: to ascertain the present state of index insurance in Bangladesh and elsewhere, and to work together to identify ways forward.

Fire, climate, and vegetation: the sedimentary record of fire in montane meadows, Sierra Nevada, California, USA [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Though knowledge of fire occurrence and weather pattern relationships has been used for many years by land managers in, for instance, prescribed fire planning, understanding of the relationship between Holocene climates and fire is just beginning to be investigated. We are investigating this relationship in a major mountain range in California, examining charcoal and pollen content in sediments of montane meadows to compare paleo-fire and paleo-vegetation (thus, climate) sequences for the Holocene.

Pathogenicity of Aeromonas sobria to Thai silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus Bleeker) and its sensitivity to some antibiotic agents

Five isolates of Aeromonas sobria, collected from the diseased fish were selected for detection the pathogenicity following water-born infection method on silver barbs (Barbodes gonionotus) at the selected exposure dose 2.5x10⁸ CFU/ml which was standardized by preliminary test. In the experimental condition lesion and mortality were found in fishes. Among the isolate, Ass17 Ass19, Ass31 and Ass36 were successfully infected 20-60% fishes. Another isolate Ass20 was found non-pathogenic. Drug sensitivity test was performed by six antibiotics viz. Oxytetracycline, Oxolinic acid, Chloramphenicol, Stilphamethozazole, Streptomycin, Erythromycin. All the isolates showed variable reaction patterns to antibiotics. Most of the isolates were found sensitive to Oxytetracycline (OT), Oxolinic acid (OA) and Chloramphenicol (C) but resistance to Erythromycin and Sulphamethoxazole (SXT). Isolate Ass31 found resistant to Oxolinic acid.

Studies on phenolase enzyme in prawns. II. The inhibitory action on the enzyme by certain chemical agents

The effect of certain chemical agents on dopa oxidation by phenolases has been examined. Sulphur containing amino carboxylic acids are inhibitory agents for dopa oxidation. Tyrosine, a substrate for the enzyme also acts as an inhibitor for dopa oxidation by the enzyme. The possible mode of action has been discussed. The function of diethyl dithiocarbamate in suppressing the display of enzyme activity has been detailed and its behaviour has been compared to the other chemical agents studied.

Effects of 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 on milkfish fingerlings (Chanos chanos) as anaesthetic agents

An experiment was undertaken in order to determine an adequate anaesthetic and optimum concentrations for use in the handling of fingerling milkfish (Chanos chanos). The compounds 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 were investigated. Results show the latter to be adequate with optimum concentrations between 100 and 200 ppm.

A comparative study on the induced breeding and in vitro fertilization performance by various inducing agents in catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Brood catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis were collected from Tamirabarani river basin of Tamil Nadu, India and kept in cement tanks. Three inducing hormones viz, Ovaprim, Ovatide and WOVA-FH were injected at the rate of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml/kg body weight in order to induce oocyte maturation and ovulation. After 10-13h of injection at a water temperature of 27±-0.5°C, stripping of eggs and in vitro fertilization was done. Ovaprim gave maximum (94.67%) hatching rate followed by Ovatide (90.33%) and WOVA-FH (77.33%).

Survey of fish factory agents on Lake Victoria, Uganda

The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the role of factory agents in buying fish and setting prices, and of their place and role in fisheries co-management on Lake Victoria, Uganda.