Fish entrepreneur Rekha Rani Mondal has set an example for farmers in Tala upazila of Satkhira by producing carp fry with modern techniques. On two bighas of land in Boyarsing village, Khalilnagar union, she has built a successful white-fish fry enterprise while carrying her household responsibilities.

She told BSS she had been unable to farm fish properly before training with Satkhira Unnayan Sangstha (SUS); after the course she began producing fry on the two bighas and has not looked back. Farmers now seek her advice and buy fry from her farm, and with her husband Manoranjan Mondal, who she says has always backed her, she contributes to the family's income and their two sons' education. Inspired by her, more than 50 fish farmers in the upazila have become self-reliant after SUS training; neighbour Puja Rani Mondal has started producing fry on her advice.

Local fish traders said they used to travel to Jashore and other districts to buy fry; quality fry is now available in their own locality, cutting travel time, cost and transport risk, and fewer fish die on the way. A local youth, Rezaul Islam, said he was impressed by a visit to the farm and intends to set up one of his own.

Md Ekramul Hasan, SUS agriculture development officer, said farmers under the project receive technology-based training and technical support, becoming economically self-reliant while supplying quality fry to meet local demand. SUS executive director Sheikh Iman Ali told BSS the project, implemented with the support of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, continues to train more people to create employment and strengthen the rural economy.

Based on BSS's Satkhira report. Source: BSS