"Vannamei" shrimp exports can yield huge money: Talukder Khaleque

Talukder Abdul Khaleque said today that the government has taken a number of steps to increase the production of shrimp, especially "vannamei," a new type of white-legged shrimp, in order to boost exports and make a lot of money from foreign exchange.

“Shrimp is one of the main foreign currency earning sectors side by side garments, its cultivator including the businessmen should come forward to increase its production,” he said while inaugurating a seminar styled “Necessity of commercial farming of vannamei shrimp side by side other shrimp production to increase export of shrimp.”

Business Promotion Council (BPC) of the Commerce Ministry and Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) jointly organized the seminar at fish fries’ production farm in Gallamary area here with BFFEA vice-president Sheikh Abdul Baki in the chair.

President of BFFEA Kazi Belayet Hossain, senior vice-president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Sharif Atiar Rahman, Chief Scientific
Officer and Head of Shrimp Research Center of Bagerhat Dr Md Harunur Rashid, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Paigachha Fisheries Research center and president of Khulna Press Club S M Nazrul Islam addressed, as special guests.

A documentary was presented on the research regarding the vannamei shrimp’ in the seminar.

The presentation narrated that a new species of shrimp named vannamei or whiteleg, which is dominating the shrimp market, is seeing success in its first experimental cultivation in Khulna.

The average production per hectare of this shrimp is 6,761kg more than the Bagda variety. Besides, the production rate of this species is high while the cost is low. It is also cheap, easily available and delicious.

The vannamei shrimp originated in Vietnam but now 15 countries of Asia are producing it. Except for Bangladesh, the remaining 14 countries are producing it commercially.

If necessary, steps are taken, Bangladeshi shrimp exporters say they can go for commercial production of this variety, the speakers said.

Shrimp farmers and exporters say only vannamei can capture the world market by expanding the shrimp industry of Bangladesh. The government finally gave permission in September 2019 in this regard.

The project is being piloted at the Paikgachha Saltwater Centre in Khulna under the Department of Fisheries and the Fisheries Research Institute.

This is a collaboration between MUC Foods of Jashore BSCIC Industrial City and Sushilan, a Satkhira-based private development organization.

Source: BSS