RAJSHAHI, Apr 02 (BSS): Integrated fish farming with poultry birds and other crops has brought a boon for many farmers, contributing a lot to meet the gradual demand.
Many fish farmers set up small-scale poultry farms and vegetables gardens on surrounding their ponds as they earn extra income from this integrated farming system.
Sekdendar Ali, a fish farmer of Mohanganj area under Bagmara upazila, said he has five big size ponds with a total water area of 80 bighas. He has established chicken and duck farms and vegetable garden on the ponds.
Ali earned around Tk 10 million from the integrated farming system during last around 16 years, creating employment opportunities for many people.
Another farmer Golam Saklain of Durgapur upazila has also done integrated fish farming in 22 ponds, contributing to bolstering local economy.
General Secretary of District Fish Farmers Association Sohrab Hossain told the news agency that the farmers are being habituated and interested to modern fish farming.
There is no alternative to come out of the conventional practice to produce safe and chemical-free fish, he opined.
District Fisheries Officer Subhas Chandra Shaha said around 66,822 tonnes of fish are produced from around 48,427 water bodies in the district. But, demand of the fish in the district is about 53,993 tonnes.
Although integrated fish farming has been proved as a time-befitting farming system, but it has not yet been practiced on a large scale here, said fish farmer Sohrab Hossain.
He, however, said it should be extended with the help of government organisations, NGOs, donor agencies and other key stakeholders.
It is also necessary to provide institutional and organisational support, training facilities and technical backup for sustainable integrated fish farming, he added.
He laid emphasis on training and technical support to increase knowledge of farmers, improve productivity and reduce risks.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
