Rangpur faces 1,000 tonnes of fish deficit annually

OUR CORRESPONDENT
RANGPUR, Mar 23: Fish production is not increasing up to scratch in Rangpur district, in absence of an integrated project.
Consequently, there prevails a scarcity of fish across the district in recent years, and therewith an eventual deficiency of protein.
According to the Rangpur District Fisheries Office, annual fish production is around 62,000 tonnes in Rangpur against the demand for total 63,000 tonnes in eight upazilas of the district.
As a result, the fish deficit hovers around 1,000 tonnes in the district annually.
Insiders said that in the current situation, there is no development project ongoing to increase fish production and create entrepreneurs in the fisheries sector here.
As a result, the district which already lags behind in fish production may face a long-term negative impact.
According to the district fisheries office sources, at least five projects ran in the district from 2015 to 2023 for different periods in nine years.
Some 5,000 fish farmers and others involved in fish production were benefited from the projects every year.

From 2015 to 2022, Rangpur Divisional Fisheries Development Project was implemented in the district.
Union-level Fisheries Technology Extension Project was operational from 2015 to 2022.
Besides, the National Agricultural Technology Extension Project (NATP-2) ran from 2016 to 2023.
Brood bank establishment project was implemented from 2016 to 2017 and fish habitat improvement project through reservoir renovation ran from 2016 to 2021.
These projects played a leading role in increasing fish production and creating entrepreneurship by organising water reservoir rehabilitation, establishing sanctuaries, community-based fisheries, distribution of income enhancing materials, supply of materials for development of government farms, establishment of reformatory hatcheries, holding exhibitions, field days and training programmes.
Basically four projects were completed in 2022. Only the NATP-2 project was completed on June 30 last year.
Sources said as the soil of the district is sandy and sandy loam, the water holding capacity of the ponds, canals and other water-bodies is low.
Consequently, growers have to produce fish amid various difficulties.
Therefore, the beneficiaries think that fisheries development projects play an important role in fish production of this district.
Mokhlesar Rahman, an entrepreneur and fish farmer at Balarhat in Mithapukur upazila, told the FE he has been involved in fish farming since 2018 after returning to the country from abroad.
He said in his five ponds on three acres and 37 decimals of land he has been cultivating different species of fish including carp, catfish and native species of Pabda and Gulsa.
He said that at present, the price of fish feed is increasing. At least Tk93 is needed for the production of per kg fish.
Besides, if other ingredients are added, it costs more than Tk150 to produce each kg of fish. But the farmers are not getting the price of the fish produced accordingly, he lamented.
Jahanur Haque, another fish grower of Rangpur city said, he is cultivating tilapia and mixed varieties of fish in 10 ponds on 6 acres of land at Anandpara in Gopalpur Union of Badarganj upazila.
He said through the NATP-2 project, he procured 10 aerator machines to maintain oxygen supply in the pond.
However, out of the total price of the machines of Tk5.5 lakh, he paid Tk 2.5 lakh and received the rest through the project.
Expressing disappointment, he said that fish farming is becoming very expensive day by day.
Therefore, an integrated project should urgently be initiated to increase fish production, alongside making various other supporting projects effectively operational.
According to Rangpur District Fisheries Office sources, there are 42,339 ponds covering 8,449.75 hectares of land in the district.
There are some 259 wetlands in the district. There are 218 floodplains, 11 canals and six rivers extending over 2,250 hectares of land.
Besides, there are 894 commercial fish farms covering 1,877.40 hectares of land.
Rangpur District Fisheries Officer Badruzzaman Manik said at present there is no project ongoing to increase and develop fish production in the district.
He said if there is no project, it is not possible to spread new technology among the fish farmers.
He also said the water holding capacity of the ponds and canals in the district is low so the farmers have to cultivate fish amid various adversities.
In this situation, exchange of experience is very necessary to create new entrepreneurs. If any particular fish farming project becomes successful in other district and knowledge about this is disseminated among the farmers of Rangpur, many people will become interested in fish farming.
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