Driven by technologies such as cage culture, biofloc systems, pen culture, and ecosystem-based feeding, these innovations are not only mitigating climate risks but also unlocking new economic opportunities. The Paba Upazila is at the heart of this transition, with farmers reporting higher yields and better income through modern, sustainable methods.

Supporting this aquaculture revolution is the newly established Kharkhari Hygienic Fish Market, developed by NGO Ashrai under the Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP). Funded by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and the World Bank, the market handles 50–60 tons of fish daily, offering critical facilities like digital weighing, live fish transport systems, and access to ice—all essential for maintaining product quality and value.

“Live fish reaching consumers safely while ensuring fair prices to farmers is our primary goal,” said Wali Ullah Mollah, Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, Paba.

Through SEP, over 30% of trained participants are women, promoting gender equity in rural aquaculture. In a notable example, 25 ethnic minority women from Chapainawabganj’s Amnura area leased ponds and adopted natural feeding techniques to generate sustainable incomes. Elsewhere, 11 unemployed youths launched a community-run kole fish culture project in the Mohanonda River.

Aquaculture Growth in Numbers

Currently, Rajshahi boasts 13,050 hectares of fish ponds, yielding an estimated 84,000 metric tons of fish annually. The district sends 140–150 truckloads of live fish every day, mostly to Dhaka and other urban markets—generating an average of BDT 2 crore (approx. USD 165,000) in daily trade, according to District Fisheries Officer Jahangir Alam.

With better access to digital water testing kits, protective gear, and cold chain logistics, local traders and farmers are ensuring food safety and minimizing post-harvest losses.

Fish farmer Sadiqul Islam, who started his journey in 2007, now cultivates over 180 bighas (around 60 acres) and says, “Modern aquaculture and live fish marketing have made fish farming a highly profitable venture.”

In neighboring Puthiya Upazila, Ershad Ali adds, “With an investment of just BDT 1.5–2 lakh (USD 1,240–1,650), anyone can start farming by leasing land. The lease cost per bigha is now between BDT 20,000 and 30,000 (USD 165–250).”

Amzad Hossain from Keshorehat village earned a profit of BDT 15 lakh (USD 12,400) in a single year by producing over 30 tons of fish, thanks to early training and access to quality breeding inputs.

The ongoing surge in fish farming—particularly live fish trading—signals a new era for Rajshahi’s aquaculture economy. With robust institutional support and climate-smart strategies, the region is setting an example for sustainable aquaculture development across Bangladesh.

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Makhan Hossain, a dedicated fish farmer from Seroil, who, along with his father Alauddin Hossain, has been successfully cultivating fish in 12 ponds since 2010. Every season, they acquire three kilograms of spawn from a nearby seed multiplication farm. The most popular carp species they rear include rui, katla, mrigel, silver carp, and grass carp. These carp, weighing between 2.5 kg to 5.5 kg, fetch a price of TK 300 to TK 600 per kg (about US $3-$6 per KG).

Makhan is not the only one reaping the benefits of fish farming. Saimur Rahaman, a resident of Seroil in Rajshahi city, embarked on a fish farming journey a decade ago. Starting with a three-bigha (1.86 acre) pond and 600 grams of spawns from the seed multiplication farm in 2012, he has since expanded his fish farming operations to 15 ponds, thanks to the availability of spawns and fingerlings from the seed multiplication farm.

Many other farmers like Makhan and Rahman have achieved remarkable success in fish production, contributing to the region’s self-reliance in fish production. Dr. Jinnat Ara Rokeya Chowdhury, Scientific Officer of the Department of Fisheries, attributes this success to the healthy spawns provided by the seed multiplication farm.

Established in Kadirganj in the heart of Rajshahi city in 1961-62, the state-owned ‘Rajshahi Fish Seed Multiplication Farm’ has become an emblem of delivering quality spawn, fry, and fingerlings to farmers at a nominal rate. Over the years, it has expanded its operations, producing 350 kilograms of spawns of 11 fish species, including major carp, while supplying them to farmers. Additionally, it provides healthy brood fishes to government and non-government hatcheries, infusing dynamism into the freshwater fish production sector.

“We always inspire and motivate the farmers for farming fish in a scientific method,” Dr. Rokeya Chowdhury emphasizes.

The farm’s primary goal is to ensure healthy spawn and fry for interested farmers and meet the protein and nutrition demands of the region. This concerted effort has led to an increase of over 178 thousand tons in fish production in both closed and open water-bodies across all eight districts of the Rajshahi division in the last four and a half years.

Fish farming is not only enhancing the financial well-being of many individuals but also elevating their social status. It is making a significant contribution to fulfilling the demand for animal protein in the region and other parts of the country.

To further boost fish production in the country’s internal water-bodies, around 104 thousand metric tons of fish fingerlings have been distributed across different water-bodies at a cost of TK 15.62 crore (about US $150 million), benefiting 684 thousand fish farmers.

The region has also seen substantial success in fish spawn and fish fingerling production, surpassing the existing demand. In the last fiscal year (2022-23), fish production reached 512 thousand tons, an increase from 398 thousand tons in 2014-15. This success has resulted in a surplus of 72,617 tons of fish production compared to the existing demands.

Abdul Wahed Mondal, Divisional Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries (DoF), attributes this success to the adoption of multidimensional development and extension programs, including the promotion of modern technologies in both farming and seed production.

Currently, there are approximately 160 thousand fish farmers, 140 thousand fishermen, and 6,712 fingerling traders in the division. This dynamic growth in fish farming showcases the region’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and economic development.

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