November 25, 2010

 

Bangladeshi shrimp farming affected by virus outbreak

 

 

A shrimp virus outbreak in Bangladesh has affected shrimp farming from the beginning of the monsoon season in the greater Khulna district.

 

The production target of the shrimp is not likely to be achieved in Khulna this year due to water contamination caused by viruses in the enclosures. Shrimp farmers are likely to face a huge loss due to a decline in production and the low prices of shrimp on the market.

 

From the beginning of shrimp production, the virus has affected the Ghers of Paickgacha, Dacop, Dumuria, Batiaghata upazilla of Khulna district, Assasuni, Shamnagor, Debhata of Shatkhira district, Rampal, Mongla, Kachua, and Fakirhat of Bagerhat district.

 

Shrimp cultivators said most of the cultivators were mentally distressed. Leaders of the Shrimp Cultivators Association said shrimp is the second largest export item of the country but this sector usually is neglected by the government.

 

The production of shrimp seeds, its marketing, and shrimp culture is going without modern technology causing the virus breakout in these areas years after year. However, they said the virus cannot be removed by using lime, water up-down, and changes of water in the Gher.

 

An official of Divisional Shrimp Cell said that there is no remedy for this disease and no equipment for testing it, either.

 

When the shrimps grow to 4-5 inches, viruses usually hit them, and the farmers then have to release young fries again into the Gher.

 

The farmers said they have released young fries in their enclosures and the rate of production of the young fries is less than the previous year. They have to face a huge loss as the young fries they released in their enclosures might be affected by viruses as most of them are physically weak, the farmers said.

 

They said the shrimp price has suddenly declined during the present time due to a syndicate of the frozen shrimp traders.

 

Some traders of young fries said there are a number of nursing points in Khulna region, but they are not enough to meet the demand. That is why the farmers have to depend on the young fries of the hatcheries in Cox's Bazar.

 

Sometimes the young fries remain weak, and after releasing in the enclosures, many die while some are infected by viruses, they added.

 

This year shrimp has been cultivated on more than 167,000 hectares of land and in about 97,000 plots of the Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira districts. The production target, on average, is 260 kilogrammes per hectare. Furthermore, shrimp is cultivated in the enclosures of different Upazilas of Bagerhat and Satkhira, sources added.