The government of Bangladesh has taken new steps to create new 6 lakh employment per annum in Fishery's sector. At the same time, they are thinking about various kinds of inspiration for this sector. High-level officials of government are saying to use appropriate technology to increase production of shrimp and crab and other species of fish to create employment for unemployed youth.
The government says that they want to utilize the great potentiality in this sector. However, analysts of this sector said, the potential use of the sector cannot be able to do the expected poverty alleviation. According to the government, more than 11 percent of the total population of Bangladesh is concerned with various activities in the fisheries sector.
The contribution of the sector to the national economy is not less. 2 percent of total export earnings come from the fisheries sector and in these recent years, the export income has been increased said government.
Secretary of the fisheries and animal resource ministry Dr. Selina Afroza said the government aims to create new employment of at least 6 lakh people.
“We are trying to encourage people for aquaculture in the left pond and ducts. In this case, poor class of people will be given priority, especially those who are around the duct or pond. They just can’t sell they will also eat these fishes to meet their nutritional needs. We are giving new technology on the farm for cultivation. People are getting interested in technology.”
Although there is a financial crisis in the global market in recent times, Bangladesh gained almost four thousand 313 core foreign currency by exporting 85 thousand metric tons of fish, shrimp and fish products.
Export revenues increased nearly three times in the past ten years. As a new sector, the target of government is to the crab, and other fishes do not eat in Bangladesh. Fisheries and Animal resource Minister Md. Sayedul Haque said about providing inspiration for cultivation of crab and these fishes.
“The people of the country do not eat crab. But there is a good market for it abroad. Our target is to catch the market strongly. So we are taking a special project directed by the Prime Minister where crab and Cuchia fish will be cultivated. We hope many people will find employment in this sector. We are going to sit in a meeting this month in Bangladesh Bank and Agricultural Bank about giving them a loan in simple condition. Giving to lend at 5% through Agricultural Bank is in active consideration.”
However, analysts of this sector, say, though there is a possibility, for the lacking of implementation of the laws a group of people always getting all the benefits and many of the sectors being poor. So expect poverty alleviation could not be possible in this sector.
Fisheries Science Faculty professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh Md. Abdul Wahab said there is no problem with government policy, but the problems are in places.
“Lands are under the Land Ministry. There is opacity in the rules of using the ponds. From the Upazila to Ministry ownership of these lands have been transferred to individuals. Their rules are not correctly applied and for various reasons, rules cannot be applied.”
Professor Wahab said through the policy of the government is good, but if the challenges of the implementation of the policy couldn’t be prevented achievement of the main purpose is impossible.
