2nd in production, Cumilla contributes only 0.043% to fish export

Despite being the second biggest fish producer in the country, Cumilla has no fish exporters, relying instead on middlemen. 

Cumilla has contributed only 0.043% to the country's forex earnings through fish exports, according to the Department of Fisheries (DoF), although it has registered a massive surplus.

At a press conference on the occasion of the National Fisheries Week, DoF officials said the district produced 2.84 lakh tonnes of fish against an annual demand of 1.46 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2021-2022,  leaving them with an excess supply of 1.47 lakh tonnes of fish.

Explaining the dismal figures, District Fisheries Officer Sharif Uddin said, "We have an acute manpower crisis. It is not possible to do the work of ten people with three people. Moreover, we need to coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce to increase fish exports from here."  

Sharif, who presided over the press conference, also said Cumilla does not have any fish exporters. 

According to data, there are around 30-40 middlemen delivering fish from Cumilla to the exporters.

"Export earnings from the fisheries sector here are low owing to lack of coordinated work from all the departments concerned," he added.

Abdus Sattar, deputy director of DoF's Chattogram Division, said "We are doing extensive work to create young entrepreneurs. If anyone faces obstacles while becoming an entrepreneur, I request them to contact the upazila fisheries office."

Only 50 tonnes of fish worth over Tk1.84 crore were exported from Cumilla in the last year, while the country earned Tk4.30 crores by exporting fishery resources, DoF officials said.

In the press conference, the officials said the target of fish production in the next fiscal year is 3.23 lakh tonnes. There are four state-run spawn breeding hatcheries in Cumilla. There are three fry production hatcheries. Besides, there are 57 private-run hatcheries. 

Mymensingh is the highest fish exporter in the country.

Fisheries week is being observed from 23-29 July in the country.  This year's theme is "Nirapad Machhea Varbo Desh, Bangabandhur Bangladesh (The country will be filled with safe fish, Bangabandhu's Bangladesh)".