The feed law would ensure food safety
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Muhammad Abul Hossain
AQUACULTURE witnessed a huge growth in Bangladesh in recent decades. It was made possible by its growing hatchery industry. Now about 40 per cent of domestic fish supply comes from the cultured fish grown in ditches and other water bodies. The feed accounts for about 50 per cent of total production cost.
The aquaculture boom dramatically increased the demand for feeds. The feed industry grew up in an unplanned way to meet the growing demand. With some exceptions, the feed companies, lacking experts, produce poor quality feed. The feed bags do not always contain what is written on the bags. But the farmers have to pay for whatever is sold.
The quality issue and the undesirable use of anti-biotics in feeds came to light when prawn exports faced rejection from European importers. Nitrofuran was the culprit in prawns.
A steady growth in frozen food export over the last decade made this sector country's second largest export-earner. Sweet water prawn from Bangladesh is what people abroad want. Galda or Fresh Water Giant Prawn, sold to England, Germany, Belgium and France accounts for 25 per cent of the exports. A farmer can grow rice in the prawn Gher. It is drawing farmers to the double farming. Growing awareness about environmental degradation and viral attack associated with shrimps prompted the switch over to prawn farming in Bangladesh.
But, from 2004 onwards prawn shipments faced problems due to the presence of nitrofuran. Last year, the rate of rejection reached its peak when over 50 containers got the rapid alert. During a voluntary ban imposed in Bangladesh on export the sources of nitrofuran was identified.
Food safety is now a big concern of exporters around the world as the importing countries worry about the health and safety of their citizens. Countries exporting contaminated food could face an image problem. With a feed law in place it would be possible to eliminate the presence of nitrofuran. Some feed companies use nitrofuran unconsciously as the imported ingredients contain the prohibited substance.
The law will empower the authorities to monitor and regulate. Diligent enforcement of the law will may eliminate many feed companies for violation. The government would, then, have to encourage new investment, to fill up the possible vacuum.
Bangladesh also needs set up testing laboratories to ensure quality. The labs should be set up at the main feed production centres in Mymensingh, Gazipur, Manikganj, Jessore and Bagerhat ti get the desired result. Farmers should have easy and affordable access to the labs, with due accreditation to international certification bodies. Feed companies need to improve quality to comply with the requirements of the law. The authorities need to support the companies keen to improve. Availability of institutional credit would facilitate investment in the needed feed mills.
The feed law should be duly enforced for imported feed and domestic output alike. Contaminated fish is equally harmful for the people of Bangladesh. The feed law should be appliied to domestic fish supply with equal importance. Of a million tons of fish output only 5 per cent is exported while 95 per cent is consumed by the people of Bangladesh.
The writer is Market Development Coordinator at Winrock International. He may be reached at
e-mail: mahossain@winrockbd.org
AQUACULTURE witnessed a huge growth in Bangladesh in recent decades. It was made possible by its growing hatchery industry. Now about 40 per cent of domestic fish supply comes from the cultured fish grown in ditches and other water bodies. The feed accounts for about 50 per cent of total production cost.
The aquaculture boom dramatically increased the demand for feeds. The feed industry grew up in an unplanned way to meet the growing demand. With some exceptions, the feed companies, lacking experts, produce poor quality feed. The feed bags do not always contain what is written on the bags. But the farmers have to pay for whatever is sold.
The quality issue and the undesirable use of anti-biotics in feeds came to light when prawn exports faced rejection from European importers. Nitrofuran was the culprit in prawns.
A steady growth in frozen food export over the last decade made this sector country's second largest export-earner. Sweet water prawn from Bangladesh is what people abroad want. Galda or Fresh Water Giant Prawn, sold to England, Germany, Belgium and France accounts for 25 per cent of the exports. A farmer can grow rice in the prawn Gher. It is drawing farmers to the double farming. Growing awareness about environmental degradation and viral attack associated with shrimps prompted the switch over to prawn farming in Bangladesh.
But, from 2004 onwards prawn shipments faced problems due to the presence of nitrofuran. Last year, the rate of rejection reached its peak when over 50 containers got the rapid alert. During a voluntary ban imposed in Bangladesh on export the sources of nitrofuran was identified.
Food safety is now a big concern of exporters around the world as the importing countries worry about the health and safety of their citizens. Countries exporting contaminated food could face an image problem. With a feed law in place it would be possible to eliminate the presence of nitrofuran. Some feed companies use nitrofuran unconsciously as the imported ingredients contain the prohibited substance.
The law will empower the authorities to monitor and regulate. Diligent enforcement of the law will may eliminate many feed companies for violation. The government would, then, have to encourage new investment, to fill up the possible vacuum.
Bangladesh also needs set up testing laboratories to ensure quality. The labs should be set up at the main feed production centres in Mymensingh, Gazipur, Manikganj, Jessore and Bagerhat ti get the desired result. Farmers should have easy and affordable access to the labs, with due accreditation to international certification bodies. Feed companies need to improve quality to comply with the requirements of the law. The authorities need to support the companies keen to improve. Availability of institutional credit would facilitate investment in the needed feed mills.
The feed law should be duly enforced for imported feed and domestic output alike. Contaminated fish is equally harmful for the people of Bangladesh. The feed law should be appliied to domestic fish supply with equal importance. Of a million tons of fish output only 5 per cent is exported while 95 per cent is consumed by the people of Bangladesh.
The writer is Market Development Coordinator at Winrock International. He may be reached at
e-mail: mahossain@winrockbd.org