Local dry fish traders and fishermen of the district are passing an idle time as customers are not coming in as expected to purchase their produce.
They complained that the absence of a proper communication system from the coastal district to other parts of the country is a major concern among traders, as carrying tons of dried fish through substandard roads increases transportation costs.
As a result, most buyers prefer purchasing dried fish from other districts, such as Cox’s Bazar, solely because of better road conditions.
The traders demanded government intervention to build better roads, and if possible, provide financial support to sustain the fishermen.
On visitingTaltali upazila’s Ashar Char, Patharghata upazila’s Natun Bazar and Ruhita areas of the district, it was found that over 100 fishermen involved in the trade are not finding sufficient customers for their dried fish.
Most of the dried fish is produced in Taltali upazila, where it was found that the burden of taking loans from local loansharks, or dadons, during the fish-drying season takes its toll on local fishermen, who find it difficult to make ends meet if they cannot sell off their stock.
They usually process sea fishes such as koral, rupsha, bain, chhuri, laitta and other varieties, which vary in price according to size.
This year,many fishermen are worried that they will not be able to pay off their debts to the dadons at all.
BarekHowlader, a fisherman atAshar Char, said that the number of dry fish traders is decreasing every year, as communication between Barguna and other districts is not stable for transporting goods.
Despite offering lower prices than the dried fish sold in Cox’s Bazar, they miss out on the opportunity because buyers do not want to purchase fish from those in Barguna.
Abdus Salam, Kamal, Belal and a few other fishermen remarked that when it comes to dried fish, their proximity to the Bay of Bengal gives them the best advantage as they can get the best quality of fish to ferment and process.
But if buyers cannot take their goods properly to other parts of the country, then they will obviously choose Cox’s Bazar dry fish traders, who charge more, but have no issues regarding road conditions and communication.
They also opined that if the government or private investors could establish a feed mill for dried fish packaging, it would ease their burden a great deal.
Deputy Commissioner of Barguna Shahid Kabir said that establishing feed mills could revive the dry fish industry in the district.
He added that he will consult with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock about setting up such an infrastructure in Barguna soon.
