Some 7,500 shrimp farmers in five coastal districts of Khulna are spending busy time practising modern farming and realizing their dreams with government grants.
As many as 2,250 farmers of 90 clusters (25 enclosures in one cluster) have received grants worth Tk13 crore. It is said that a 20% increase in production is possible as a result of cultivation in this method. But if everything is done correctly, production can be doubled instead of the 20% increase. After 4 months, farmers are able to see the success of modern shrimp farming.
Farmers had been seeing losses in shrimp farming for several years using the traditional method. Their shrimps died due to various reasons including water salinity, effects of climate change and diseases. Farmers of the Khulna region fell into a financial disaster due to continuous losses.
Just when shrimp farmers were passing days in despair, the Department of Fisheries organized them and showed them new possibilities and a ray of hope. As a result, 7,500 shrimp farmers in the 300 clusters formed under the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project are dreaming of recovering from the disaster.
According to the Khulna divisional office of the project, farmers have been well organized and 300 clusters have been included in the project. Each cluster has 25 enclosures. The enclosures range in size from 33 to 150 decimals. The total area these clusters encompass is 2,500 hectares.
The project started in 2019 in 25 upazilas of five districts of the Khulna region. The duration of this project undertaken in 2018 is till December 2023. The project work is being done in eight upazilas of Khulna, nine of Bagerhat, seven of Satkhira, two of Jessore and three of Gopalganj.
So far 300 clusters have been selected, and Tk13.22 crore of the first installment of grant has been given to 90 clusters where excavation and embankment work have been completed.
Applications were invited for grants for enclosure preparation as per project guidelines. With this grant, farmers will cover all expenses including digging and road construction, shrimp fry collection, enclosure preparation, good aqua practice, electricity, construction of office rooms and the purchase of necessary equipment.
Sheikh Mahtab Hossain, president of Tipna New Road Prawn Cultivation Cluster in Dumuria upazila of Khulna, said: “We have succeeded in cultivating shrimps in the cluster system. The farmers will benefit from the advice of the Fisheries Department. I was hoping to get a matching grant after preparing the enclosure. We are happy to receive financial support even if it is a little late.”
Animesh Kumar, general secretary of Kharia Shrimp Farmers Cluster in Koyra upazila, said: “I have been farming shrimp for 22 years. Production is not good as soil and water quality is not what they used to be. We were very worried as we had been facing losses for several years. Now I am dreaming of doubling my production this year with the cooperation of the Fisheries office. I have received Tk8 lakh in the instalment.”
Aminul Haque, senior upazila fisheries officer of Koyra upazila, said 10 clusters were formed in Koyra. The farmers belonging to the cluster have to increase the depth of the enclosures by digging on their own initiative.
Bagerhat Fisheries Officer ASM Russell said there are 16 clusters in the district. Sixteen farmers have so far applied for matching grants by fulfilling the conditions. I hope the production will increase.”
Khulna Fisheries Officer Jaydev Kumar said the cluster system is the modern version of shrimp farming. In this method, the depth of the pond has to be 4-5 feet. Funding is provided to only the clusters that meet the necessary conditions.
Saroj Kumar Mistry, sub-project director of the Khulna division Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, said this is an effective way to increase shrimp production in coastal areas. If all farmers on the south coast can be well organized and expand shrimp farming through the cluster system, the agricultural economy will advance.
He said to be included in the cluster, 25 enclosures should be side by side. There should be no infrastructure beside them. Farmers do not receive funding until the excavation is completed. After 4 months the result will be known by seeing the production.
