Fish farming in cages gains popularity
Our correspondent, Jamalpur
The Fisheries Department has taken a programme to raise fishes in cages in the district under its project of extension of fish farming technology service at union level.
Fisheries officials said under the project, the Fisheries Department began fish farming in four places through community-based group (CBG) at Islampur, Dewanganj and Jamalpur Sadar upazilas in open water-bodies.
The Fisheries Department selected four CBGs with 20 persons in each group. Every CBG got Tk two lakh from the department for making cages with nets.
Each CBG got financial assistance and training for setting up 10 cages.
Two CBGs set up 20 cages in a channel in Jamuna River at Islampur upazila while another CBG set up 10 cages in another channel of the same river at Dewanganj upazila. Beside, a CBG set up 10 cages in a channel of the Brahmaputra River at Jamalpur sadar upazila.
The fisheries officials said about 900 fingerlings of mono sex Telapiya were released in every cage. After three months, they said, three to four fingerlings will turn one kilogram. For getting one kilogram of fish, farmers have to give 1.5 kilogram food worth of Tk 60 to the fishes. Per kilogram fish is expected to be sold at Tk 100 to 120.
District Fisheries Officer Dr Md Abdul Majid said youths are showing interest to farming fishes in cage.
He said some unemployed youths set up cages at Kharkharia village in Ranagachha union at Jamalpur sadar upazila while the Fisheries Department gave training to them on fish farming.
