Reduce poverty through development of fisheries

If exposed to the ground situation, university teachers and students can carry out demand-led and pro-poor research in fisheries, said Prof Md Abdul Wahab of Bangladesh Agriculture University in his keynote paper at the inaugural ceremony of two-day 'Fisheries Education Fair'.

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Forum organised the fair at the Biam auditorium to mark the completion of Support for University Fisheries Education and Research Project, with Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk as chief guest.

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The objectives of the project were to build teaching capacity of the researchers and to enhance the quality of research and the ability to respond to the needs of the poor, said Project Coordinator Dr David Brown.

A total of 101 teachers from Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Khulna University and Bangladesh Agriculture University were trained under the project that started in 1999 with funds from the Department for International Development, UK, said Project Director Mohammed Mufakker.

Bangladesh stands fifth in terms of fish production and seventh in terms of value of fish and fishery products, said Prof Wahab.

Rich with 140 species of small indigenous fishes, the country produced more than 6.20 lakh metric tons of fish in 1999.

Of the total fish output in 2001-02 fiscal, inland culture fisheries yield accounted for 42 percent, inland capture fisheries production 36 percent and marine capture fisheries production 22 percent.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor SMA Faiz and University Grants Commission Chairman Dr M Asaduzzaman also spoke.

University fishery experts are taking part in the fair. They will show how to reduce mortality rate of fish fries and raise the fish production applying various methods in a pro-poor approach.