USAID project supports PFPFA for increased fish production

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FE Report
The USAID-funded PRICE (Poverty Reduction by Increasing the Competitiveness of Enterprises) project and the Phulpur Fish and Prawn Farmers' Association (PFPFA) announced their agreement for increasing quality aquaculture production for the domestic and export markets.
Under this initiative, PRICE will provide technical support to PFPFA farmers on a cost-sharing basis in Phulpur in Mymensingh to increase the yields and conduct group input in purchasing and marketing.
The training of roughly 200 farmers will begin this October taking place over the next 12 months and follow PFPFA's production cycle.
The result is expected to be a significant increase in yield and income of the participating farmers. PRICE and PFPFA will particularly encourage the participation by women in aquaculture in their household ponds as a positive example for rural Bangladesh.
"PFPFA is extremely pleased to have the support of PRICE to strengthen their organisation and increase member services in group procurement of inputs and marketing together with improved farming methodologies," remarked Ayesha Akther and Md Israfil of PFPFA.
"We are looking forward to working with PRICE to increase yields in our farms and associating local young male and females in aquaculture so that all derelict and under-producing ponds in the area can be turned into high yielding ponds".
PFPFA is an organisation of mostly fish farmers (some also prawn) engaged in the production and marketing of aquaculture products. Farming integration among its members with probable embankment crops will increase more revenue earnings and job creation. PFPFA has an active female membership, which it is looking to increase.
"Our partnership with PFPFA presents an excellent opportunity to fulfill the PRICE mission of increasing sales, jobs and young adults and women participation and therefore reduce poverty in Bangladesh," said Bob Webster, PRICE Chief of Party. "This work will benefit fish farmers of different categories and empower rural women in this region of Bangladesh."
PRICE is a USAID-funded project whose objective is to reduce poverty by facilitating the increase of sales, jobs and investment in aquaculture, horticulture and leather products. PRICE's activities will be driven by the demand of the market and will seek for the benefits of growth to be shared with women, young adults, SMEs and farmers as much as possible.