Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
In Rangpur district, along with modern and improved methods of fish farming, commercial fish farming activities have increased manifold. Among the six upazilas of the district, Pirganj, Mithapukur, Badarganj, Pirgachha and Kaunia, 56 unions of 5 upazilas (National Agricultural Technology Project) are running NATP project. The project has undertaken multidimensional activities in the district to increase fish production. 114 CIGs (Common Beneficiary Group) and 1 PO (Producer Organization) were formed and 2 to 10 pellet machines and 3 to 2 pellets were provided as their sub-project.
The pellet machine plays an important role in making low cost fish food using indigenous ingredients in view of the proper nutritional needs of the fish. The quality of the fish food prepared in the pilette machine is maintained. The quality of food can be increased as per the demand and it is possible to reduce the price of food prepared using food ingredients subject to local availability.
Twelve pellet machines from the NATP-2 project have increased fish production in CIG-affiliated fish farmers’ ponds. Using low quality food items and expensive food has saved the fish farmers from losses. Food ingredients are being bought from the market and safe food is being made by its own pellet machine. Not only their own nutrition but also the nutritional needs of fish have gained a good idea. They are benefiting by producing more fish in a short period of time and as a result their quality of life has improved.
The fish farmers are meeting the food demand of the fish in their ponds with the food prepared in the pellet machine as well as helping other poor fish farmers.
Md. Al Mamun, a member of Purbamasterpara CIG Fisheries Cooperative Society Ltd, Badarganj Upazila, said, the price of food prepared in this way is much lower and cheaper than the market price. Fish production has also doubled. The farmers of the neighboring village have started fish farming with the food prepared in the pellet machine and other farmers are getting excited after seeing it. They are becoming financially prosperous and profitable. “
District Fisheries Officer Barun Chandra Biswas said the NATP-2 project has played an important role in increasing fish production in Rangpur district and has also created interest among unemployed youth in fish farming. With the provision of pellet machines, farmers are producing quality food at affordable prices. The fish farmers are benefiting a lot from this.
