They mentioned that the adoption of the latest technologies using quality fish seed would definitely increase production to meet the protein demand of the growing population whilst also improving the socioeconomic condition of the rural people, reports BSS.
They were addressing the daylong consultation workshop on 'fish seed improvement initiatives' organised by WorldFish under the USAID- funded Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia in Bangladesh (CSISA-BD).
The experts said fish hatcheries can play an important role in enhancing fish production as the farmers do not always get expected production due to use of poor quality fish seed.
In his speech, WorldFish Country Director Dr Craig said that ensured use of quality fish seed can alone increase 25 to 30 per cent fish production in country.
He said: "Fish seed quality always equals profit" and added that good hatcheries need branding and stressed for having a forum of the hatchery owners, like a hatchery association, that can be effective for many compliance issues of the hatcheries.
In his presentation, Dr Benoy suggested various ways and technologies for supplying quality broods, inputs, improved Germplasm of carp and tilapia, creating breeding nucleus, capacity building on hatchery management, database development for producing quality fish seed and making the business profitable.
He informed that a 'Tilapia Breeding Nucleus-TBN' has established in Shandhi Aqua Farm at Rangpur with assistance of WorldFish and the TBN can fulfill the demand of quality tilapia brood and quality tilapia seed in this region.
Improving quality fish seed issues is now considered one of national priorities in Bangladesh for achieving fish production target of 3.9 million metric tons in 2020-21, he added.
Thirty five hatchery owners, experts and scientists of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) and Rural Development Academy (RDA), CSISA- WorldFish Bangladesh and DoF and other departments, representatives of partner NGOs and journalists participated
