Supply scarcity upsets dry fish producers in Chalanbeel area

Scarcity in fish supply has upset hundreds of dry fish producers of Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore districts in Chalanbeel region this season in spite of high expectations.

Now, they are passing anxious days due to the unforeseen situation in this peak period. The fishermen are disheartened as they are likely to incur losses.

They were very busy during November to February in previous years to catch various species of fish in the water body but they are passing idle time this year, said fishermen of the region.

They said they are not getting adequate supply of local varieties of fish from the biggest water body in northern region of the country, they added.

A good number fishermen in adjacent districts in Chalanbeel area produce dried fish in their households and sell those in the winter season earning extra money every year. But, the present circumstances have dampened their hopes.

On the other hand they are getting good market price this season. Each maund of dried fish was sold at Tk 7,000 to Tk 9,000 last year but they are selling each maund of fish at Tk 11,000 to Tk 14,000 this year.

During a recent visit at Mohishluti Shutki Palli the correspondent found fishermen are drying some 250 to 300 maunds of fish every day.

Five out of twenty big sheds for drying fish have already been shut down this year due to lack of adequate supply of fish. Inadequate floodwater and less rain is the main cause of the situation.

"I would dry over 15 to 20 maunds fish every day last year during the peak period," said fish producer Anil Kumar Das under a upazila of Sirajganj. "I am drying only 10 to 12 maunds this year as the supply of fishes is very poor." he added.

Producers of Chalanbeel generally dry puti, koi, moushi, tengra, pabda, shoil, taki, bayem, guchi and many other indigenous spices of fish.

Production of all varieties of local fish decreased this year, bringing sufferings for the fishermen in Chalanbeel.

District Fishery Officer of Pabna Md Abdur Rouf said production of local variety fish has decreased this year in the biggest water body of the northern district due to the scarcity of water. But the soaring prices would make the fishermen happy, he added.

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