Govt to propose introduction of licensing system
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Monira Munni
The government will, in the draft shrimp policy, propose the introduction of licensing system to ensure that the chemicals and medicines used in the production of shrimp feed are of acceptable quality.
There are no purchasing guidelines now as a result of which the farmers use the same feed, medicine and chemicals used by the poultry industry. Through the introduction of licences the use of harmful chemical and medicine would be controlled, officials said.
The government is likely to finalise the draft National Shrimp Policy-2010 (NSP) by May to boost shrimp production and growth of the country's shrimp industry, they added.
"At last the policy will see to the light of day as it remained shelved for the last two-three years," an official said.
He said the country has a fish policy but no separate guideline for shrimp cultivation -- the country's second largest foreign currency earner -- and other related issues.
"We are expecting that the authority will approve the NSP in the next meeting to be held on May," S Humayun Kabir, managing director of Amam Sea Food Industries Ltd said.
"It would be a milestone for the country and it will open a new window of opportunity for the shrimp farmers and the shrimp industry," Mr. Kabir, also a director of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association said.
He said the main objective of the NSP is to ensure environment-friendly integrated shrimp farming in the country.
Earlier, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) prepared the draft NSP giving a clear guideline on shrimp farming with a view to resolving the misunderstanding between landowners and leaseholders.
The DoF took the initiative to ease the contradictions between landowners and leaseholders involved in the country's 16 south-western districts, where shrimp farming is dominant.
"We hope the policy will give the farmers a clear guideline on shrimp and paddy cultivation on their lands," a DoF official said.
According to the DoF, the policy will ensure the shrimp farmers enjoy their legal rights.
The policy will also have a guideline on loans to be provided to shrimp farmers by banks and NGOs on easy terms and conditions.
The draft policy includes a plan for setting up a training centre to create skilled manpower for the shrimp industry, the official said.
The policy will also focus on shrimp production and marketing, export, shrimp hatchery and development strategies.
More than 2.0 million people are directly and indirectly involved in the shrimp cultivation on around 0.21 million hectares of land.
The government will, in the draft shrimp policy, propose the introduction of licensing system to ensure that the chemicals and medicines used in the production of shrimp feed are of acceptable quality.
There are no purchasing guidelines now as a result of which the farmers use the same feed, medicine and chemicals used by the poultry industry. Through the introduction of licences the use of harmful chemical and medicine would be controlled, officials said.
The government is likely to finalise the draft National Shrimp Policy-2010 (NSP) by May to boost shrimp production and growth of the country's shrimp industry, they added.
"At last the policy will see to the light of day as it remained shelved for the last two-three years," an official said.
He said the country has a fish policy but no separate guideline for shrimp cultivation -- the country's second largest foreign currency earner -- and other related issues.
"We are expecting that the authority will approve the NSP in the next meeting to be held on May," S Humayun Kabir, managing director of Amam Sea Food Industries Ltd said.
"It would be a milestone for the country and it will open a new window of opportunity for the shrimp farmers and the shrimp industry," Mr. Kabir, also a director of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association said.
He said the main objective of the NSP is to ensure environment-friendly integrated shrimp farming in the country.
Earlier, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) prepared the draft NSP giving a clear guideline on shrimp farming with a view to resolving the misunderstanding between landowners and leaseholders.
The DoF took the initiative to ease the contradictions between landowners and leaseholders involved in the country's 16 south-western districts, where shrimp farming is dominant.
"We hope the policy will give the farmers a clear guideline on shrimp and paddy cultivation on their lands," a DoF official said.
According to the DoF, the policy will ensure the shrimp farmers enjoy their legal rights.
The policy will also have a guideline on loans to be provided to shrimp farmers by banks and NGOs on easy terms and conditions.
The draft policy includes a plan for setting up a training centre to create skilled manpower for the shrimp industry, the official said.
The policy will also focus on shrimp production and marketing, export, shrimp hatchery and development strategies.
More than 2.0 million people are directly and indirectly involved in the shrimp cultivation on around 0.21 million hectares of land.