Shrimp research instt set up in Bagerhat
A shrimp research institute has been set up in the district involving Tk 22.68 crore with a view to maintaining standard of the exportable in the foreign markets and raise its production using modern technologies.
The work on construction of the research institute began on eight acres of land at Boitpur near the Doratana River adjacent to the district town in September 2006. The work has been completed one and a half years ahead of the scheduled time, officials said.
The research institute was constructed fulfilling the long-cherished demand of the shrimp cultivators of south-western zone of the country. The operation of the institute is likely to start this month.
Chairman of Lockpur Group Industries S M Amjad Hossain told the news agency that with application of modern technologies it is possible to export shrimp worth Tk 10,000 crore a year.
Project Director of the shrimp research institute Dr Yahya Mahmud said four laboratories equipped with modern facilities have been built in the institute.
“The institute will conduct research on maintaining food and nutrition value of shrimp, checking its diseases, maintaining quality of soil and water for ensuring environment-friendly shrimp cultivation”, he said.
Shrimp cultivators will be given training on modern technologies of shrimp cultivation in the institute, he said.
President of Bagerhat shrimp cultivators association Sheikh Illiyas
Mahmud said a huge quantity of shrimps perishes every year due to virus attack. The cultivators could not take any step as they lack knowledge to face the situation.
The institute will be helpful for the shrimp cultivators by giving them training on modern methods of cultivation and raising its production, he said.
Shrimp is the second biggest foreign currency earner of the country.
But now-a-days this sector is facing multifarious problems and its export is also declining day by day.
Export from the sector fell by 13.01 percent to $355.67 million during July-March of 2008-09 fiscal year from $ 408.87 million of the previous year.
At present, shrimp is being cultivated using 2.15 lakh hectares of land in the country and around 1.5 crore people are directly and indirectly involved with the industry.
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