Govt to spur fish production
The government plans to increase fish production to around 3.5 million tonnes by 2015 from the current yield of around 2.70 million tonnes, according to a study.
Mahmudul Karim, executive director of Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation, presented a paper titled "Fish in Food Security and Some Relevant Issues" at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka yesterday.
The study mainly focused on three broad areas: food safety, food security and impact of climate change on fish production.
The study said fish met 60 percent of the country's protein demand. It also highlighted that fish contained a fat that was vital to normal brain development in unborn babies and infants.
The study also showed that the aquaculture production of fish has increased by 40 percent and has the potential to increase production, employment and exports.
Md Abdul Latif Biswas, fisheries and livestock minister, said the government in its one and a half years passed laws to protect the rights of fishermen and consumers.
The minister also said the ministry's available manpower is limited, which delays the implementation of decisions. The prime minister, however, has ordered that the ministry's manpower be enhanced, he added.
The programme was organised by the Department of Fisheries, Fisheries Product Business Promotion Council, Frozen Food Exporters Association and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation.
Comments