Fish farming changes days of day-labourers in Patuakhali

Harun Majhi (cross mark on chest) with shrimps netted from his pond in Hajipur village in Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali. PHOTO: STAR

His mini hatchery earned him about Tk 50,000 this year from sale of fish fry.

Harun of Hazipur village in Kalapara upazila inherited only the homestead with a ditch in front of his house. Like others, he had to leave school while in class VI.

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Harun started a mini hatchery in the ditch with help from Patuakhali Barguna Aquaculture Extension Project (PBAEP), assisted by Danida.

In January 2001, after two days' short training Harun took a loan of Tk 5,000 from ASA an NGO. He collected some mother fishes from ponds in the village and released those in his ditch.

He sold over one lakh fingerlings and earned a profit of Tk 50,000.

Now Harun is a self reliant and owns several acres of cropland. "This project has changed my life", Harun while talking to this correspondent.

Nazma left school after crossing the only the primary level due to poverty. She now earns Tk 3000- to 4000 a month by selling fish feed.

"I was inspired by PBAEP field supervisor Swapan", Nazma said

She prepares fish feed from oil cake, dry fish and other ingredients, bought from local market and sells to fish farmers and hatchery owners of.

Nazma's husband was a day labourer. Now they run the buisness together, she said.

BPAEP is helping about 1.20 lakh poor farmer by involving them in aquaculture in Patuakhali and Barguna district, its officials said.

The 10-year project launched in October, 1997 is scheduled to end in June 30 this year.

Seeing its success, different quarters have demanded extension of the project.

PBAEP is implementing a Tk 36.89 crore Danida (Danish International Development Agency) project.

Under the project, 62,000 people have been trained as fish cultivators, 909 as fingerling traders, 65 as fish feed producers, 63 as carp hatchery promoters and 1106 in raising nursery. Loans amounting to Tk 2.10 crore have been distributed among fish farmers in the project area.

The project brought 55,850 ponds, 5,586 ghers (water bodies) and nine canals covering 226.5 hectares of water body under fish cultivation.

"This project has brought a great change in Patuakhali and Barguna districts as most of derelict ponds and canals have been brought under fish cultivation and a large number of people engaged in fish farming. They are gradually changing their life", said PBAEP Project Director Wahid-Un-Nabi while talking to this correspondent

"This will bring about a sustainable development in the area", he said.