Cage fish farming brings fortune for Narsingdi youths

Fish farming in cages, a new devised technology of fish firming invented by scientists, has changed many youth's life and brought fortune for them in the district.

District Fisheries office sources said a significant number of youths in Narsingdi Sadar, Raipura and Monohardi upazilas have been farming Monosex Tilapia fish in the floating cages in the Meghna river and its branches for last 10 years.

Other than Meghna River, some youths of Monohardi upazila have been farming the same fish in the floating cages in Arialkha River for the last seven to eight years due to its economic prospect.

Raihan Sarker of Dattapara area in Narsingdi Pourashava first started fish farming in cages in Meghna River since 2011 with only four cages on experiment.

After getting positive results, he then expanded cage fish farming. At present, he is farming fish in 150 cages and every four month he produced 300 to 400 kg fish from each cage.

Seeing the success of Raihan with the support of local fisheries department, currently over 350 youths has been successfully farming Tilapia and other fishes in 820 cages in Sadar, Raipura and Monohardi upazilas.

District Fisheries officer said fish farming in cages has opened up a new chapter in fisheries sector.

He said cage fish farming is more profitable as a fish farmer from one cage sized 10 feet length, 10 feet wide and 6 feet high can produce 400-500 kg Tilapia fish every four months.

Tilapia is being sold at taka 100-110 per kg in the local whole sale fish market, he said.