Setback in shrimp sector
Cultivation of shrimp, a major export earner, is facing a serious set back in coastal Satkhira district this year due to attack of the fishes by an unknown viral disease.
About half of country's exportable shrimps are produces inn the district.
Frustration has gripped shrimp cultivators due to the massive attack by the unidentified disease, causing heavy losses to farmers. Many of the farmers are now thinking to quit the business.
Once attacked, shrimps in an enclosure dye within four to five days, farmers said.
At least Tk 150 crore shrimps died in last three months, they said.
Most of the marginal farmers are either being compelled to sell their small-size shrimps at throwaway prices or even sell their enclosures to avoid heavy losses, they said.
There are about 17,613 shrimp enclosures covering 54,703 hectares of land in seven upazilas of the district. Of them, 1870 are in sadar upazila covering 3544 hectares, 744 in Tala covering 3155 hectares, 2709 in Debhata covering 9907 hectares, 5023 in Kaliganj covering 10778 hectares, 3200 in Assassuni covering 13259 hectares, 4064 in Shyamnagar covering 14500 hectares and 12 enclosures Kalaroa upazila covering 40 hectares.
Majority of the enclosures in the district have been attacked with the unknown viral infection, said Dipak Kumar, a shrimp cultivator at Puijala village in Assassuni upazila.
Another farmer Khairul Mozaffar Montu claimed that about 95 per cent of the enclosures have been affected by the viral attack, causing a loss of at least Tk 150 crore to farmers.
Satkhira District Shrimp Farmers Association President Dr Aftabuzzaman said shrimps are dying but prices of fries and other inputs have increased manifold. Many shrimp farmers are now thinking to give up the profession, he said.
On contact, district fisheries officer (DFO) Hasanuzzaman said they are trying to identify the virus. He said they are trying to save the sector but no effort will succeed till the virus is identified.
Comments