RANGPUR, Sept 7, 2020 (BSS) – Experts at a fingerling releasing function here have stressed on increasing fish production consistently to cut poverty, meet nutrition and strengthen rural economy.
They expressed the view at the event organised by Gangachara Upazila Fisheries Department for releasing fish fries in government water bodies of the upazila in the district under the revenue budget for the 2020-2021 FY this afternoon.
District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Barun Chandra Biswas and Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Taslima Begum jointly inaugurated the programme in the function by releasing carp varieties of fingerling to a pond of the upazila.
With Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO) Dipa Rani Biswas in the chair, Upazila Vice-chairman Shaju Ahmed Lal, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shariful Islam, Assistant Director of the District Fisheries Department Kazi Atiah Tayeba attended the function.
In her welcome speech, Senior UFO Dipa Rani Biswas said fish production has been increasing to the tune of over one lakh tonnes annually in the country in the last 12 years following implementation of pragmatic steps taken by the government.
“The government has been implementing massive programmes for expanding fish cultivation in rural areas and providing assistance to the fishermen, fish farmers and private sector entrepreneurs to further boost fish production,” she said.
DFO Barun Chandra Biswas stressed on bringing all water bodies and floodplains under fish cultivation using latest technologies to further boost fish output, cut rural poverty and meet nutrition of the rural people for building a healthier Bangladesh.
UNO Taslima Begum called upon everyone to enhance fish production along with protecting natural breeding grounds, stop catching of small fishes to preserve indigenous fish species to achieve self-reliance by rural people by cutting poverty.