Fifteen people in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah, have succeeded in farming pabda fish. Last year more than Tk 5 crore of pabda was exported to India, and they believe more than Tk 8 crore can be exported this year. The fish is farmed on 25 hectares of water bodies in Pantapara and Bashbaria unions. Seeing their success, more farmers have taken it up this year than last.

The farmers are Anwar Parvez, Akter and Salam of Pantapara union; Jahed Ali, Nayan, Khokon, Shahabuddin, Mosleme, Majnu and Osman of Bashbaria union; Nityapada of Nasti village, Saiful of Sreepur, Nur Hossain of Jagusa village and Rabindranath Haldar of Maheshpur.

Jahed Ali of Bagan Math village said: "At first three of us farmed pabda. We export our fish to Bongaon and Barasat in India. Last year 15 of us farmed on 25 hectares of water, and exported 130 tonnes of fish to India at Tk 360 [a kg]. With more farmers this year, it will be possible to export more than Tk 8 crore of fish to India."

Anwar Parvez said: "Pabda fry are bought from the fisheries research institute in Mymensingh at 90 paisa to Tk 1.20 each. The institute delivers them to our ponds in its own vehicles. With six to eight months of care the fish grow to market size."

He said: "Fish traders from India come to our ponds and buy pabda at Tk 360 a kg. Selling the fish costs us no trouble or expense."

Upazila fisheries officer Alamgir Hossain said: "Pabda is being farmed in more water bodies this year than last. We are giving full support. The number of fish farmers has grown this year, which will play an important role in reducing unemployment in the country."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.