Fisheries production growth to boost per capita consumption by 2025, study says
The study findings have identified the gaps in the sector, base on which it has manifested solutions and opportunities for joint collaboration with Dutch companies and institutes
Per capita fish consumption in Bangladesh will grow by 2025 as a result of the projected annual fisheries production growth of 5.2% in the country, according to a research report published on the aquaculture sector in Bangladesh.
The study projected the per capita fish consumption of Bangladesh to grow to 23.1 kg/ per day by 2025 from 21.8 kg /day in 2019, facilitated by projected growth in fisheries production to 5.67 million MT by 2024, said a press release.
Larive International and their Bangladeshi partner LightCastle Partners have conducted the study to assess the status quo of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Bangladesh and identified the key challenges and bottlenecks facing the sector.
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A webinar was held on Wednesday (21 April) on the opportunities in aquaculture sector in Bangladesh to discuss the key challenges and bottlenecks facing the sector based on the research.
The webinar - "Opportunities in the Aquaculture sector in Bangladesh" – was organised to disseminate the findings from the study.
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Harry Verweij and Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands M Riaz Hamidullah delivered remarks during the session. The keynote speakers were Matthias Brienen, Director of Larive International; Zahed Amin, Director of LightCastle Partners; and Saif Nazrul, Senior Business Consultant and Project Manager at LightCastle Partners.
M Riaz Hamidullah said, "Even ten years ago, people could not have imagined that Bangladesh is now the 3rd largest inland fish producer and 5th aquaculture producer globally. We welcome the Dutch stakeholders to collaborate and make Bangladesh an even bigger aquaculture powerhouse and help expand our fisheries exports, where there is a lot of untapped potentials."
The study findings have identified the gaps in the sector, base on which it has manifested solutions and opportunities for joint collaboration with Dutch companies and institutes, particularly through investments, knowledge exchange, and policy, regulatory and technology support.
It showed the lack of quality seeds, poor animal health, low availability of high-quality feed, post-harvest loss and less-developed cold chain facilities among some of the critical bottlenecks of the sector.
The report contended that Dutch stakeholders can also support the sector's growth by investing in agro-logistics, building cold chain solutions, and strengthening capacity throughout the value chain by providing technological, business development, and knowledge-sharing support.
It also presented opportunities for Dutch stakeholders in the aquaculture sector ranging from facilitating training programs, setting quality and regulatory protocols, expanding use of improved technology, and technical assistance in the identification and prevention of diseases.
It is expected that the outcome of the study will help match and connect the Bangladeshi and Dutch partners to act upon the recommendations of the study and jointly address the sector bottlenecks to achieve the full potential of the aquaculture sector of Bangladesh.
