Convert traditional hatcheries to produce SPF postlarvae

Shrimp and prawn yields in the country stood at 296 kilogrammes per hectare in 2017 but increased to 664 kg per hectare in 2021 as growers started following six measures of scientific farming introduced by the Safe Aqua Farming for Economic and Trade Improvement (SAFETI) project, according to speakers at a workshop.

The project promotes the use of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) postlarvae for farming.

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The annul requirement for shrimp postlarvae is around 100 crore but only about 70 crore is locally produced while the demand for prawn postlarvae is 150-200 crore but farmers get only 2 per cent of this amount from private hatcheries.

So, there is a great opportunity to convert conventional hatcheries into SPF postlarvae hatcheries to meet the demand, according to speakers at a workshop organized by Winrock International at the CSS-Ava Center in Khulna city yesterday.

The annul requirement for shrimp postlarvae is around 100 crore but only about 70 crore is locally produced

SAFETI works with shrimp and prawn farmers, traders, hatcheries, processors, microfinance institutions, depot holders and auction market committees to enhance their capacity.

About 25,000 small farmers have already registered increased production of farmed shrimp and prawn thanks to the initiative, which ultimately increased their income, said Sattyanarayan Roy, regional coordinator of the project.

SAFETI is a six-year project supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that has been working to increase the production of farmed shrimp and prawn in Bangladesh to increase trade.

Additionally, the project has been contributing to building the capacity of value chain actors and stakeholders in the sector, he added.

The SAFETI project is being implemented in south-western regions of the country, namely Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jashore, and Cox's Bazar.