Setback in Satkhira shrimps sector
International market prices now half of last year: Viral infection spreads
Frustration has gripped shrimp cultivators as the major export earning sector is facing a serious set back this year due to spread of a viral disease in farms and drastic fall of prices in foreign markets.
The prices now are almost half of those during this time last year, exporters and farm owners said.
Many foreign buyers have cancelled orders, they said.
The farmers said, shrimps worth several crores of Taka were affected by virus infection in the last two months and the disease is spreading.
According to sources, there were 17,613 shrimp enclosures on 54,703 hectares of land in all the seven upazilas except Kalaroa in Satkhira district.
At least 30 per cent of those have been attacked with viral infection, said Dipak Kumar, a shrimp farmer at Puijala village in Assassuni upazila.
Added to this, a drastic fall in prices in foreign has made prospects of the sector totally uncertain, he said. Another farmer, Abdul Aziz of Assassuni upazila said, one kilogram of shrimp of Grade-20 is being sold at Tk 300 now against Tk 600 last year.
Mahbubur Rahman of M/s Penguin Fish, a frozen food exporter, said the prices of shrimp has plummeted due to less demand of Bangladeshi shrimps because of viral infection.
District fishery department sources also said shrimp cultivation is facing a serious set back due to viral infection. Buyers are also cutting back orders this year fearing viral infection in enclosures.
Foreign importers are hesitant to place orders, said Dr Aftabuzzaman, a leader of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association.
Assassuni Upazila Fishery Officer Shamim Haidar however claimed that the farms are being affected due to inadequate water in enclosures, not for viral infection.
On contact, District Fishery Officer (DFO) Hasanuzzaman said none complained to him yet regarding viral infection in shrimp enclosures.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments