BSS, Rangpur :
Fisheries experts at a training course have stressed on enhancing fish production and consumption to strengthen immune systems in the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
They expressed the view at concluding function of the training course on ‘Farming of ‘Gulsha’ and ‘Pabda’ Fishes with Carp Fishes’ arranged by Pirganj Upazila Fisheries Department at Agriculture Training Centre in the upazila here on Monday.
Twenty-five fish farmers participated in the two-day training course arranged strictly marinating physical distance and health directives of the government to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.
District Fisheries Officer Barun Chandra Biswas attended the concluding function s the chief guest with Pirganj Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Aminul Islam in the chair.
Earlier, Divisional Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Sainar Alam formally launched the training course at the same venue on Sunday as the chief guest.
Fisheries experts Foysal Azam, Kazi Atiah Taiyeba and Field Assistants of the Department of Fisheries Shahjahan Prodhan and Suman Sarker conducted different sessions of the training course.
Aminul Islam said that Bangladesh has already achieved self-sufficiency in fish and continues increasing its production to the tune of one lakh tonnes on an average annually every year in recent years.
“The government is implementing inclusive programmes for expanding fish cultivation in rural areas and providing assistance to fishermen, fish farmers and private sector entrepreneurs to further increase fish production,” he said.
The chief guest called upon fish farmers and rural people to enhance fish production along with protecting natural breeding grounds, stop catching of small fishes to preserve indigenous fish species to achieve self-reliance by cutting poverty.
He suggested field level fisheries officers to ensure best use of water bodies and transfer latest technologies to farmers to enhance fish production, meet nutrition of the population and increase their disease resistant capacities amid COVID-19 pandemic.
