BFFEA seeks Tk 4.25b financial support to boost shrimp export
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) Saturday sought Tk 4.25 billion (425 crore) initial financial support to help shrimp farmers cope with the rise of raw materials' price in the international market, reports BSS.
"Shrimp production has been reduced due to price rise of raw materials in the international market. Initially we need Tk 4.25 billion (425 crore) to increase the production," Musa Meah, president of the BFFEA told the news agency Saturday.
A number of farmers of late lost their confidence in shrimp production, as they can not afford raw materials of shrimp production at the high price.
Besides, he said, 20 to 25 shrimp processing factories were forced to stop production as a result of international price escalation and they will have to be motivated to shrimp production once again.
Asked about outcome of the recent visit by EU's Food and Veterinary Mission, Mean termed the visit as a successful one and said the mission and the government had reached a consensus to give shrimp industry, the country's second biggest foreign currency earner, a fillip.
But he promptly decried they were not getting any amount from the stimulus package as declared by the government earlier for the industries affected by the global financial recession.
Echoing the potential of the sector, the BFFEA chief said Bangladesh had exported freshwater shrimps (galda, also known as green tiger prawn) worth Tk 6.0 billion (600 crore) to destinations mostly EU since January 10 after withdrawal of the 'self-imposed ban' on export of such items to the European countries.
The BFFEA is also set to earn Tk 45 billion (4,500 crore) by exporting freshwater shrimp if no problem does arise, he said.
Bangladesh exported freshwater shrimp (galda) worth Tk 1.14 billion (114 crore) to different destinations excepting the EU during June to November last year while it was Tk 2.46 billion (246 crore) during corresponding period in 2008.
Besides, export of shrimp (bagda) worth Tk 13.48 billion (1,348 crore) during June- November in 2009, Tk 1.73 billion (173 crore) more than that of the same period of previous year.
The country exported around 50,368 tonnes of shrimp (all categories) and earned Tk 27.74 billion (2,774 crore) last year while this year the ministry is expected to export 55,000 tonnes of shrimp.
"Shrimp production has been reduced due to price rise of raw materials in the international market. Initially we need Tk 4.25 billion (425 crore) to increase the production," Musa Meah, president of the BFFEA told the news agency Saturday.
A number of farmers of late lost their confidence in shrimp production, as they can not afford raw materials of shrimp production at the high price.
Besides, he said, 20 to 25 shrimp processing factories were forced to stop production as a result of international price escalation and they will have to be motivated to shrimp production once again.
Asked about outcome of the recent visit by EU's Food and Veterinary Mission, Mean termed the visit as a successful one and said the mission and the government had reached a consensus to give shrimp industry, the country's second biggest foreign currency earner, a fillip.
But he promptly decried they were not getting any amount from the stimulus package as declared by the government earlier for the industries affected by the global financial recession.
Echoing the potential of the sector, the BFFEA chief said Bangladesh had exported freshwater shrimps (galda, also known as green tiger prawn) worth Tk 6.0 billion (600 crore) to destinations mostly EU since January 10 after withdrawal of the 'self-imposed ban' on export of such items to the European countries.
The BFFEA is also set to earn Tk 45 billion (4,500 crore) by exporting freshwater shrimp if no problem does arise, he said.
Bangladesh exported freshwater shrimp (galda) worth Tk 1.14 billion (114 crore) to different destinations excepting the EU during June to November last year while it was Tk 2.46 billion (246 crore) during corresponding period in 2008.
Besides, export of shrimp (bagda) worth Tk 13.48 billion (1,348 crore) during June- November in 2009, Tk 1.73 billion (173 crore) more than that of the same period of previous year.
The country exported around 50,368 tonnes of shrimp (all categories) and earned Tk 27.74 billion (2,774 crore) last year while this year the ministry is expected to export 55,000 tonnes of shrimp.