Shrimp farmers in Satkhira vow to protect environment

Shrimps produced in Satkhira earn around Tk 1200 crore in foreign currency in a year but its unplanned and unscientific cultivation is destroying the ecology.

About 600 shrimp farmers and stakeholders yesterday carried banners and festoons and raised slogans during a procession in the small town to create awareness about the need for protecting the ecology while cultivating shrimp. The processionists, starting from Shaheed Abdur Razzak, paraded the main streets and converged at the Pourasava auditorium where a discussion meeting was held.

It was addressed by, among others, World Fish Centre's Industry Consultant Maj (Rtd) Monzur Ahmed, Shrimp Consultant Glenn Bebar, former lawmaker AK Fazlul Haque, Sadar upazila Fisheries Officer Abdul Wadud, Abul Hossain Rana, NZ Foundation Director Monzur Hossain. It was chaired by Principal Sheikh Abdul Wadood while Additional District Magistrate (ADSM) Siraj Uddin was the chief guest.

The programme was organised jointly by some NGOs-- N Z Foundation, Biswas Foundation, Iswaripur Foundation and Manab Sampad Unnayan Kendra, Coastal Development Partnership, Shrimp Quality Support Project and World Fish Centre with assistance from USAID.

Speakers at the discussion meeting urged the authorities to formulate a strategy to introduce sustainable and environment friendly and socially responsible shrimp cultivation in the country to boost yield and export.

They said unplanned shrimp cultivation is destroying the bio-diversity and ecological balance in South -Western districts.

Co-ordinator of the Coastal Development Partnership, Ashraful Alam Tutu, in his key note paper said the yield can be increased at least four times if shrimp is cultivated in a scientific and planned way. He stressed on intensive cultivation, which will increase per hectare production.

He said, saline water for shrimp cultivation is not only destroying fertility of agricultural lands but also damaging the bio-diversity.

Glenn said, women workers in shrimp processing plants are subjected to serious health hazards and inhuman working conditions. The process should be modernised.