Cage fish farming on the Chitra river at Goalibari village in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat is drawing attention. Rows of long cages made of plastic drums and netting are moored along the bank, stocked with fast-growing exotic tilapia and, alongside them, colourful aquarium fish.

Gopal Biswas, the village farmer behind the venture, has succeeded with ten cages. He said he started the project with advice and technical support from the Fakirhat upazila fisheries office, and that regular feeding and proper care are enough to rear the fish well. His ornamental fish in particular have found demand: people buy them at modest prices to keep in aquariums at home.

Because the river is tidal and flowing, he said, there is no risk of the water fouling, and with proper care the cages return a profit within a short time.

Md Ferdous Ansari, Chitalmari's upazila fisheries officer, said cage culture is a big opportunity for poor and landless people living along the rivers. If government training and credit facilities are extended, he said, the practice could cut unemployment in the coastal area and add substantially to fish production.

Reported by Krishi Shomoy's Bagerhat correspondent. Source: Krishi Shomoy