The shrimp production of 27K shrimp farmers has increased by 16.6% in six years, according to the project officials of Safe Aqua Farming for Economic and Trade Improvement (SAFETI).
Through the SAFETI project, farmers’ shrimp sales increased by 47% and productivity by 125%. Shrimp farmers who produced an average of 295 kg per hectare before the training, have yielded 664 kg in 2021. This project covers 10 upazilas of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore and Cox’s Bazar.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded this project and began in 2016 through a local partnership with Winrock International. It was implemented by Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), Community Development Center (CDC) and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS). The project was completed this year at the end of October.
SM Shaheen Anwar who is head of the project said that following 6 recommended steps by the project has increased the annual average production of shrimp farmers. Project prior annual selling price for per farmer was $918, which has increased to $2,044 in 2021.
The safety project has contributed to the expansion of trade and export value by building the capacity of value chain actors and stakeholders in the shrimp sector, he added.
“It contributes significantly to improving the lives and livelihoods of farmers involved in shrimp and shrimp farming in Bangladesh,” said Victoria Baker, international program specialist for Food for Progress, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s Division of International Food Assistance.
Farmers were using traditional methods to cultivate shrimp before they were trained by SAFETI project. Farmers were emphasis to implement of six points during their training.
- Water depth must be 3-5 ft
- Keeping the bottom of the enclosure free from mud
- Purifying and disinfecting the enclosure water
- Preventing the transmission of pathogens
- Selecting healthy seedlings for shrimp farming
- Providing moderately good quality feed
During the closing ceremony of the project, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said that Bangladesh has produced 251,000 tonnes of shrimp in 2020-21. Traditional shrimp hatcheries are now switching to SPF PL (Specific Pathogen Free Post Larvae) hatcheries, he added.
Three approved SPF hatcheries have produced about 621 million SPF shrimp PL this year. There are about 200,000 shrimp farms and 9,651 commercial shrimp farms who have been registered as a part of the implementation of the traceability system of shrimp sector in the country. All hatcheries should start SPF PL production for safe and quality shrimp production in the country, minister urged on his statement.
