Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Sayedul Hoque yesterday said the country will be able to attain autarky in fish by the 2018-19 fiscal year as the government has taken various steps to promote fish culture, reports UNB.
“Bangladesh will be able to revive its traditional glory ‘machhe bhate bangali’ (Bangalis live on fish and rice) by 2018-19 by attaining self-sufficiency in fish production,” he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while addressing a workshop, titled ‘Ensuring Food Safety All Levels of Aquaculture Production and Supply’ jointly arranged by Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) marking the National Fish Week 2016.
BSFF director Dr Mahmudul Karim presented the keynote paper at the workshop held at DoF Building.
Sayedul said though Bangladesh’s annual demand for fish is around 41 lakh metric tones, the country will produce 38.5 lakh metric tonnes in the coming fiscal year. He said the government has taken various steps to increase fish production to overcome the annual deficit and attain autarky.
The minister asked the authorities concerned to organise an intra-ministerial roundtable to work out plans to boost in shrimp export.
Speakers at the workshop voiced concern that people may put in serious health risk due to unscientific and indiscriminate use of around 200 types of toxic chemicals in fish feeds.
Emphasising healthy fish production, they urged the government to take effective steps for reducing the pollution of rivers, water bodies and ponds and use of toxic chemicals in fish feeds.
DoF director general Dr Syed Arif Azad, Export Promotion Bureau vice chairman Mafruha Sultana, Commerce Ministry joint secretary Fakir Firoz Ahmed and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute DG Dr Yahia Mahmud, among others, spoke at the programme.