Lobster farming can fetch Tk 800 cr annually in Barisal division

Experts said the climatic condition is favourable and many water bodies are suitable for lobster cultivation in six districts in the division. But, its cultivation can not be started due to lack of organisational supports and proper initiatives, they added.

An economic revolution can be possible by cultivating shrimps in the division, they said.

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They found that the lobsters can be cultivated in ponds, tanks, and saline and sweet water bodies round the year in six processes. The processes are old system, mixed cultivation in paddy fields and ponds, expanded high-yielding method, and half intensive, intensive and high intensive methods.

The experts said half tonne of lobsters can be produced from one hectare of water body at a cost of only Tk 50 in the old system, one tonne in the mixed cultivation methods at a cost of Tk 50 and two tonnes in the expanded high-hielding method at a cost of Tk 100.

Besides, five tonnes of lobsters can be produced from one hectare of water body in the half intensive method at a cost of Tk 150, 10 tonnes in the intensive method at a cost of Tk 250 and 20 tonnes in the high intensive method at a cost of Tk 250, they said.

The lobsters can be produced from 200 kgs to 7.50 tonnes per acre in all these processes in the region. The cultivation of lobsters up to one tonne at any time is very easy.

With the object, the Fisheries Department in the region called upon NGOs to come forward and help farmers so that lobster farming can be developed for removing poverty and unemployment from society.

They also sought financial help from government for lobster cultivation in the region.