Hasina announces promotional packages for boosting fisheries output
Friday, 31 July 2009
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for preserving the country's ponds, canals, haors-baors and rivers for protecting natural breeding places of fishes, as she announced promotional packages for boosting fisheries output, reports UNB.
She also directed the ministries and departments concerned to work hard through coordination with all other authorities to achieve this year's national fish- production target of 2.7 million tonnes to cater for people's protein needs.
Addressing the inaugural function of the National Fisheries Week-2009 at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium Thursday, the Prime Minister said from next time, fishermen would be given food assistance for four months and alternative employment facilities during the breeding season of hilsha fish to restrain them from catching 'jatka' (hilsha fry).
"The fishermen are at present given two-months’ food assistance during hilsha-breeding season. In the current year also 5,730 tonnes of wheat have been allocated for them. We will increase the food assistance to four months under the VGF programme to stop catching jatka," she said.
Besides, the government would arrange alternative jobs for the fishermen to keep them away from catching the under-sized hilsha.
"Already, a project titled 'Preserving Jatka, Alternative Employments for Fishermen, and Research Initiatives' has been taken up for implementation," she said.
Hasina told the function that export of 'galda' shrimp (lobster) to the European countries would be started again soon, as the present government had taken effective measures in this regard.
She said export of shrimps to the European Union member- countries remained stalled since the beginning of the current year due to indifference of the past governments towards detecting chemicals used during production process.
The Prime Minister warned of stern action against those producers and exporters who would cheat in exporting shrimps and other fishes through confidence trick.
She also directed the ministries and departments concerned to work hard through coordination with all other authorities to achieve this year's national fish- production target of 2.7 million tonnes to cater for people's protein needs.
Addressing the inaugural function of the National Fisheries Week-2009 at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium Thursday, the Prime Minister said from next time, fishermen would be given food assistance for four months and alternative employment facilities during the breeding season of hilsha fish to restrain them from catching 'jatka' (hilsha fry).
"The fishermen are at present given two-months’ food assistance during hilsha-breeding season. In the current year also 5,730 tonnes of wheat have been allocated for them. We will increase the food assistance to four months under the VGF programme to stop catching jatka," she said.
Besides, the government would arrange alternative jobs for the fishermen to keep them away from catching the under-sized hilsha.
"Already, a project titled 'Preserving Jatka, Alternative Employments for Fishermen, and Research Initiatives' has been taken up for implementation," she said.
Hasina told the function that export of 'galda' shrimp (lobster) to the European countries would be started again soon, as the present government had taken effective measures in this regard.
She said export of shrimps to the European Union member- countries remained stalled since the beginning of the current year due to indifference of the past governments towards detecting chemicals used during production process.
The Prime Minister warned of stern action against those producers and exporters who would cheat in exporting shrimps and other fishes through confidence trick.