€6m joint initiative for sustainable aquaculture in Bangladesh
The partnership consists of Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, Gemini Sea Food, Nutreco, Viqon, LightCastle Partners, and Larive International
A four-year partnership between Dutch and Bangladeshi companies aiming to invest €6 million, is set to boost sustainable development of the local aquaculture sector.
The partnership launched on Monday, FoodTechBangladesh, will introduce sustainable fish breeding techniques in different parts of the country, according to a press statement of the Dutch embassy in Bangladesh which is co-financing the initiative.
Larive International BV will head the partnership that also includes Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, Gemini Sea Food, Nutreco, Viqon, and LightCastle Partners.
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Birgitta Tazelaar, deputy director of General International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the agreement on behalf of the Netherlands, and Abu Lutfe Fazle Rahim Khan, director of Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, and Mahmud Riyad, General Manager, Operations, Gemini Seafood, signed on behalf of the respective firms.
"The Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh supports the development of more sustainable agri-food value chains in Bangladesh and encourages Dutch companies to invest locally with local stakeholders," Anne van Leeuwen, ambassador of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, said on the occasion.
The parties will establish three 'Centres of Excellence' in Sylhet, Khulna, and Cox's Bazar, to introduce and demonstrate different types of techniques for fish breeding and cultivation.
Over 1,600 local fish breeders and farmers will receive training at the centres and by online courses of the project.
"Strengthening the aquaculture sector in Bangladesh requires an increase in domestic productivity in an environmentally and socially responsible way. This can be realised introducing technologies developed in the Netherlands," said Matthias Brienen, director of Larive International.
The joint venture will conduct research and trials with on-farm products such as feed additives, antibiotic replacers, etc. The companies will also provide technical assistance to fish breeders and farmers.
Furthermore, the partnership will upgrade an aqua feed line in Dhaka to increase the availability of domestically produced specialised fish feed.
