Slump in shrimp exports sparks concerns

Exporters demand steps by govt

Shrimp exporters have urged the government to introduce the white shrimp venom, a high-yielding variety of shrimp, as shrimp exports have significantly declined in the last four years.

The exporters are worried over the fact that the export volumes have fallen to 39,706 tonnes in the 2016–17 fiscal year. This was 47,635 tonnes in the 2013–14 financial year.

Export volumes will decline further to 29,000 tonnes in the 2017–18 fiscal year (end of June), they warned.

The exporters raised this point while addressing a seminar attended by experts and scientists at a hotel in the capital yesterday.

The Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters’ Association (BFFEA) and the Business Promotion Council (BPC) jointly organised the seminar, titled ‘Increasing the cultivation of frozen shrimp and removal of obstacles’.

Fisheries and livestock minister Narayan Chandra Chanda, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq, Cox’s Bazar-2 lawmaker Ashek Ullah Rafiq, secretary in the shipping ministry Abdus Samad, the commerce ministry’s additional secretary Munshi Shafiul Huq and BFFEA president Amin Ullah spoke at the seminar.

Former chief scientific officer of the department of fisheries, Chitta Ranjan Biswas, and former deputy director, Prafulla Kumar Sarker, presented two keynote papers at the seminar.

The speakers urged the government to take initiatives to increase exportable shrimp production by removing all mismanagement in this sector and plugging its loopholes. The sector will suffer dramatic decreases if steps are not taken, they warned. These steps include the immediate introduction of hybrid venom shrimp variety in the country.

According to the keynote papers presented, the production cost of venom shrimp (white shrimp) is 20–30 per cent lower than local varieties of lobster and prawn. At least 77 per cent of venom shrimp varieties are now being cultivated across the world, including major shrimp exporter countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam and India, they added.

“We are now exporting large and medium-sized lobsters and prawns to European countries, North America, Russia, Japan and the Middle East. The export volumes will decline to 29,000 tonnes in 2017–18 (end of June),” Amin Ullah told The Independent.

The production rate of venom shrimp variety is higher than local varieties of lobster and prawn, he explained, adding, “The farmers can produce only 300–400 kg of lobster or prawn per hectare while venom production levels are 10,000–15,000 kg per hectare.”

Expressing his concern over the declining export volumes of shrimp, Narayan Chandra Chanda said: “Now is the time to expand the sector.”

“It is very important to ensure progress in the shrimp cultivation sector. A feasibility study is needed before the introduction and cultivation of the venom variety of shrimp in the country,” the minister said.

He also assured shrimp exporters and farmers that permission will be granted to cultivate the venom variety of shrimp commercially soon after the completion of the study.

Slump in shrimp exports sparks concerns

Exporters demand steps by govt

Shrimp exporters have urged the government to introduce the white shrimp venom, a high-yielding variety of shrimp, as shrimp exports have significantly declined in the last four years. The exporters are worried over the fact that the export volumes have fallen to 39,706 tonnes in the 201617 fiscal year. This was 47,635 tonnes in the 201314 financial year. Export volumes will decline further to 29,000 tonnes in the 201718 fiscal year (end of June), they warned. The exporters raised this point while addressing a seminar attended by experts and scientists at a hotel in the capital yesterday. The Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) and the Business Promotion Council (BPC) jointly organised the seminar, titled Increasing the cultivation of frozen shrimp and removal of obstacles. Fisheries and livestock minister Narayan Chandra Chanda, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq, Coxs Bazar-2 lawmaker Ashek Ullah Rafiq, secretary in the shipping ministry Abdus Samad, the commerce ministrys additional secretary Munshi Shafiul Huq and BFFEA president Amin Ullah spoke at the seminar. Former chief scientific officer of the department of fisheries, Chitta Ranjan Biswas, and former deputy director, Prafulla Kumar Sarker, presented two keynote papers at the seminar. The speakers urged the government to take initiatives to increase exportable shrimp production by removing all mismanagement in this sector and plugging its loopholes. The sector will suffer dramatic decreases if steps are not taken, they warned. These steps include the immediate introduction of hybrid venom shrimp variety in the country. According to the keynote papers presented, the production cost of venom shrimp (white shrimp) is 2030 per cent lower than local varieties of lobster and prawn. At least 77 per cent of venom shrimp varieties are now being cultivated across the world, including major shrimp exporter countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam and India, they added. We are now exporting large and medium-sized lobsters and prawns to European countries, North America, Russia, Japan and the Middle East. The export volumes will decline to 29,000 tonnes in 201718 (end of June), Amin Ullah told The Independent. The production rate of venom shrimp variety is higher than local varieties of lobster and prawn, he explained, adding, The farmers can produce only 300400 kg of lobster or prawn per hectare while venom production levels are 10,00015,000 kg per hectare. Expressing his concern over the declining export volumes of shrimp, Narayan Chandra Chanda said: Now is the time to expand the sector. It is very important to ensure progress in the shrimp cultivation sector. A feasibility study is needed before the introduction and cultivation of the venom variety of shrimp in the country, the minister said. He also assured shrimp exporters and farmers that permission will be granted to cultivate the venom variety of shrimp commercially soon after the completion of the study.