Scarcity of fish in Rangpur region

RANGPUR, Feb 09: Despite various steps taken by the authority concerned to increase fish production in Rangpur district, scarcity of fish has been prevailing across the region in recent years.
According to district fisheries office sources, production of fish is around 41,796 tonnes in the district against its demand of total 63,095 tonnes of fish in eight upazilas under the region. As a result the deficit is 21,299 tonnes of fish, sources further said.
The production target is yet to be fulfilled in the region owing to lack of water bodies, poor water flow in the rivers, non-utilisation of ponds, use of current net and application of chemical fertilisers on croplands, sources alleged.
There are about 200 beels, a good number of rivers, water bodies and around 18,000 hectares of low lands in the district where fish is being cultivated.
But still the total production of fish is not adequate to meet the demand of the consumers, sources said.
Sources alleged that dearth of fish caused soaring price of the same in the markets. Supply of different species of fishes like Sharputi, Bata, Kaliboush, Baghaaire, Pabda, Bime, Koi, Magur, Shing is very scanty in markets, sources said.
Abdur Rahman, a resident of Rangpur city told FE that once the supply local fishes was sufficient in the region and its price was also reasonable. But presently the scenario has changed.
At present supply of fishes is scanty against its demand and it is being sold at exorbitant prices. Prices of most of the fishes are beyond the buying capacity of common people, he added.
District fisheries official sources said to meet the required demands of fishes in the district the department has taken various measures which include farming of fish fry, fish farming in paddy field, in cages and in abandoned water bodies, to encourage farming of fish in different open water bodies at personal initiative, sources added.
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