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Bangladesh: Govt to launch project to boost fish production at union level

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The government has taken steps to initiate the “Union-level Fish Farming Technology Extension Project (Phase 3)” with a budget of Tk75 crore to increase fish production and promote rural economic development.

The project proposal has already been sent from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to the Planning Commission for approval, said sources.

On 21 October, a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) was held in this regard under the chairmanship of Mohammad Jahangir Alam, former member (secretary) of the Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Institutions Division at the Planning Commission. The meeting discussed various aspects of the project. If approved, the project will begin in 2024 and run for four years, until June 2028. It will be implemented by the Department of Fisheries.

Govt to launch project to boost fish production at union level

The main goal of the project is to enhance fish production through the expansion of fish farming technologies and ensure socio-economic development. The project aims to establish 2,500 demonstration sites in 250 upazilas (sub-districts) across the country to showcase fish farming techniques in household ponds. It will also include field-level assistance, training for fish farmers, and motivational programmes.

Representatives from the Planning Commission noted that while two phases of the project were completed from July 2009 to June 2022, there is a need to assess whether the previously established demonstration sites were sustainable. The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) stated that the technologies provided in the earlier phases were not popular among farmers. Additionally, many fish farms in some areas have already made significant progress, so the project should focus on areas that are lagging behind.

It was recommended during the meeting that the project’s total cost be capped at Tk50 crore, and instead of recruiting new personnel, the existing staff of the Department of Fisheries should be utilised for project implementation. It was also suggested that the current status of the demonstration sites established in the first and second phases be included in the Detailed Project Proposal (DPP) and submitted to the Planning Commission after restructuring.

Through the project, trained fish farmers will be created, helping meet local nutritional needs.

Md Shahed Ali, deputy director (planning) of the Department of Fisheries, told the Daily Sun, “This project is crucial to meet the increasing demand for fish in the country. Through this initiative, we aim to train farmers and make them self-sufficient in fish farming. Two previous phases of similar projects were very successful, achieving a target production of 3.5 tonnes per hectare, while the actual production was 5 tonnes.

“Under this project, farmers in 250 upazilas will receive various supports for fish farming. Once implemented, this project will directly benefit around 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh fish farmers.”

He also said, “Currently, the per capita demand for fish is 62 grams, and we are producing 68 grams. The country’s total fish demand is 48 lakh tonnes, and production has reached 49.15 lakh tonnes, exceeding the demand by 1.15 tonnes. By 2030, the planned demand is 65 lakh tonnes, and we are working towards that target. However, the reduction in water bodies means that we need projects like this to meet future demands.”

Despite the increase in production, the price of fish has not decreased significantly due to rising food and labour costs. He also pointed out that fish by-products like bones and heads, which could be used in industries, are not being utilised effectively