Farmers become self-reliant selling formalin-free fish

RAJSHAHI, July 3: The fish farmers in the district have become self-reliant cultivating formalin-free fish in recent years.
There is a high demand of formalin-free fish among the customers in different districts. For this reason, they are showing more interest in formalin-free fish cultivation applying modern method since they are getting bumper production with fair market price.  
The formalin-free fishes, which are produced in nine upazilas here, are supplied to different districts including capital city Dhaka after meeting the local demand.
According to sources at the district Fisheries Office, "The demand of fish is around 53,933 metric tons whereas the farmers can produce 66,822 metric tons per year. They produce extra 12,889 metric tons. There are 48,427 ponds, canals, water lands across the whole nine upazilas of the district here.
Besides, the farmers also produce fish at different rivers applying cage method, water lands and beels. A total of 11,866 fish farmers, who are producing white fishes including carp fish, monosex tilapia and some other species of fish.
Around 1 lakh people are involved in fish farming directly and indirectly across the district. The produced fish is going to different districts including the capital, the sources said.     
Some fish farmers said that despite the government's continuous awareness programmes about formalin, some dishonest fish traders are selling fish mixed with formalin to earn some profit quickly. But the customers are showing interest in buying formalin-free fish. For this reason, the demand for such type of fish is rising.
While talking with The Daily Observer, Alaf Mollah, a school teacher and fish farmer of Boilsing village of Baghmara upazila said that he has been farming different varities of fish since 15 years. He has four big ponds on 15 to 20 bighas of land.
He employed some youths at his farming. He used to supply live and formalin-free fish to Dhaka after meeting local demand. Following this, more than 100 youths are involved in fish farming applying modern method, he added.
Golam Saklayen, former UP Chairman and fish farmer of Durgapur upazila, said that he has 22 ponds on 60 bighas of land. He has been farming fish since 20 years. He has created employment and deployed some youths to help him in fish farming. He has become very self-reliant in this fish cultivation.
Mozammel Haque of Krishnapur village of Tanore upazila, said, "Earlier I used to sell fish to the wholesalers coming from other districts who would mix formalin. But now I am selling fish directly, and so there is no chance to mix formalin."
Arafat Siddique, Tanore upazila fisheries officer, said, "Fishes mixed with formalin are harmful to human body. To ensure formalin-free foods, fishes, and vegetables, the present government is continuing various awareness programmes across the country."
He further said, "Our farmers produced 1,050 tonnes of fish. Now they are showing more interest in formalin-free fish selling since they are getting fair market price."
Rajshahi District Fisheries Officer Suvas Chandra Shaha said that the farmers are able to bring fish farming revaluation as they have increased 10 per cent fish production applying cage method in different upazilas of the district in recent years.