Fish cultivation

Bangladeshis have tried different palatable dishes but till today rice and fish remain the staple food of nearly 140 million people. It is unfortunate that we buy white fishes for our consumption from the neighboring countries, which means we pay them for cleansing their ponds and tanks with lime stones and insecticides, employing skilled fishermen and engaging their fleet for fish transportation.

On the contrary, many of our ponds and tanks remain filled with water hyacinth and rotten algae. Due to irregular occupation these days unskilled people are available as fishermen. Many of our fishing boats and trawlers are becoming idle due to depletion of 'fish stock' in the country.

There should be an imminent reversal of the aforesaid trend! An earliest cabinet decision of the government for utilising every CSD godown for storing and distribution of lime stones, insecticides and fish fry and feeds, and thereupon the trickle down programmes of the department of fisheries, UNDP, NGOs and private companies, can enhance white fish cultivation across the country.