National policy workshop on fisheries, aquaculture held

A high level National Policy Workshop jointly organised by Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) and Feed Industries Association Bangladesh (FIAB) was held recently.

Department of Fisheries with support from Agribusiness Trade Competitiveness Project (ATC-P) of Katalyst under Ministry of Commerce facilitated the event, said a statement.

The workshop considered various steps needed to overcome supply side constraints in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in order to make the sector more dynamic and vibrant with significant growth impact.

The workshop proceedings emphasized that to accelerate growth in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, Bangladesh fish farmers would need to have assured supply of quality feed at affordable cost as feed constitutes one of the most important input needed for intensification and augmentation of fishery productivity and output in the sector.

It was pointed out during the workshop that in Bangladesh ensuring the availability of quality feed still remains a major challenge, feed cost at times are very high and farmers may not always know how to properly use feed in the most effective and economic way. To overcome these challenges a series of suggestions were made including how quality feed production can be increased in Bangladesh and make the same available at affordable costs.

The workshop called for comprehensive cooperation among Govt. of Bangladesh, Fish Feed producers in the private sector, organizations like BSFF and FIAB and as well as interested development partners for future growth oriented initiatives in this key area.

The workshop was presided over by Syed Mahmudul Huq, Chairman, BSFF.  Mr. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Joint Secretary (Livestock), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Syed Arif Azad, Director General of Department of Fisheries, Mr. Goljar Hossain, Deputy Director (Aquaculture), DoF, Ambassador Liaquat Ali Choudhury, Policy Adviser, BSFF, Mr. Moshiur Rahman, President, Feed Industries Association Bangladesh, Mr. Shyamal Kanti Ghosh, Adviser, Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) and Mr. Debashish Nag, Adviser, Feed Industries Association Bangladesh, amongst others, attended the meeting.

In a separate event on the same day, an MoU of cooperation was signed between BSFF and FIAB. Syed Mahmudul Huq, Chairman, BSFF and Mr. Moshiur Rahman, President, Feed Industries Association Bangladesh signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

-rmc//