'Evolve environment friendly shrimp cultivation'
Speakers at a workshop here yesterday urged the authorities concerned to formulate a strategy for introducing a sustainable and environment friendly shrimp cultivation to boost yield and export.
Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) and World Fish Centre jointly organised the workshop. USAID financed the workshop chaired by CDP coordinator Ashraful Alam Tutu. Satkhira deputy commissioner (DC) Mohammad Kefayetullah was present as chief guest.
Speakers alleged that unplanned shrimp cultivation is destroying bio-diversity and ecological imbalance in the southwestern region of the country.
They stressed on integrated efforts of shrimp cultivators and stakeholders for environment friendly cultivation of shrimp which brings Tk 1,200 crore foreign currency for the country annually through export from the district.
Speakers said saline water needed for shrimp cultivation is not only destroying fertility of agricultural lands but also damaging bio-diversity and shrinking traditional poultry breeding.
They said crop fields have lost fertility because of shrimp cultivation which thrives on exploitation of labour, muscle power and terrorism. Women workers are subjected to serious health hazard, they said.
They urged shrimp cultivators to release virus free shrimp fry in the enclosures for boosting production.
They urged them to be more responsible in cultivation of shrimp for protecting bio-diversity.
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