Ahidun Nabi (30) is an ambitious young man from Mirsarai in Chattogram. After finishing his studies, instead of chasing a job he built a fish farm on his own initiative. He suffered a setback at first but did not stop; he took up the challenge and started again. That was where his success story began, and he has not had to look back.

Ahidun Nabi is now an idol for the area's unemployed youth. He first began producing fish fry by the (environment-friendly) biofloc method in a 10-decimal pond beside his house. His fish farming has since grown a great deal, and he also has a cattle farm. He is the son of freedom fighter Nurul Islam of Bhagabatipur village in Zorarganj union of Mirsarai upazila, and the second of two brothers and two sisters.

A visit to his farm found the pond fenced all round with tin sheets and covered with netting. Fish fry are raised in the small pond, where Ahidun Nabi was feeding them. He is producing about 1.10 lakh fry at a time in this small pond.

He first buys hatchlings from different companies and grows them for three months. When they reach 50 fish a kg, they are sold. Each batch produces 1 lakh fry. His fry are in good demand, and fish farmers book them in advance. Besides Mirsarai, buyers come from Raipur in Lakshmipur and Sonagazi in Feni to collect fry. Following his example, four others are now producing fry by this method.

Ahidun Nabi told Jagonews: "In 2015 I graduated (Dawra) from Hathazari Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Madrasa in Chattogram. After my studies I had thought of going abroad, but when my father suddenly died I dropped the idea. I made up my mind not to take a job. Seeing biofloc fish farming in small spaces through various media, I became interested, and took training in the method in Chattogram city."

On the obstacles, he said: "With great difficulty I started fry production in 2019 with Tk 2 lakh in capital. At first all the fish died and I lost about Tk 3 lakh. On top of that, within a year I suffered a big loss because of Covid. My farm saw a profit towards the end of 2020, and after that I did not have to look back."

On his success, Ahidun Nabi said: "One after another, each batch earns about Tk 1 to 2 lakh. With the income from here I started fish farming on 5 acres at Tekerhat, known as the upazila's fish zone, and farm about 30 more acres jointly. I also built a cattle farm; starting with two cows, I now have 26. Altogether the business capital is now Tk 40 lakh."

Along with training, Ahidun Nabi learned the technical side by watching videos. With determination and some borrowed money as capital, he set out on an uncertain path. Fisheries officers of other upazilas have shown interest in his biofloc farming, but he says he has had no help from the local fisheries office. He hopes that with government support he could expand the business faster.

Mirsarai upazila senior fisheries officer Nasim Al Mahmud said: "I have heard that a young man named Ahidun Nabi is farming fish. I have not yet visited his project. It is not true that no one has received help by coming to the upazila fisheries office. I will soon go and see Ahidun Nabi's project."

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