Japan to provide ¥2,294m to Bangladesh

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Thursday signed a grant agreement of ¥2,294 million (approx Tk 165 crore) to implement a project for the improvement of Fish Landing Centre of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) in Cox’s Bazar District.

The signing ceremony was held at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), according to a press release.

Under this project, JICA and BFDC will work together for infrastructural upgradations within the centre, and improve management skills among the BFDC officials.

The Grant Agreement was signed by Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh and Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Iwama Kiminori, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, Sayeed Mahmood Belal Haider, Chairman of BFDC, and relevant officials from JICA, ERD, BFDC and the Embassy of Japan were present to witness the signing.

Bangladesh’s fishery sector, the second-largest earner after textiles, employs 11.8 per cent of the population, with 40 per cent of artisanal fishers in Cox’s Bazar District.

Yet, natural disasters and ageing facilities hinder efficient landing, contributing to a high poverty rate of over 32 per cent, surpassing the national average of 24 per cent.

The influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) and COVID-19 have driven up demand for livelihood improvement and poverty reduction.

The Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Fish Landing Centre in Sadar Upazila handles over 85 per cent of Cox’s Bazar’s fish catch.

However, damage from a 2012 cyclone has left parts of the quay, jetties and landing facilities in disrepair, making restoration challenging both financially and technically.

Additionally, fishers face income challenges due to declining prices and post-harvest losses from inefficient landing processes and poor handling, impacting the quality and freshness of fish.

Against such a backdrop, the aims to improve the efficiency of landing, handling and quality of fish catch through upgrading landing facilities and related equipment at the (BFDC) fish landing centre in Cox’s Bazar District; thereby contributing to the improvement of productivity of fishermen and decrease of post-harvest loss rate in the distribution system.

JICA has already conducted a survey to assess the feasibility of improving the BFDC Fish Landing Centre in Cox’s Bazar.

The survey results indicate that improving the fish landing centre will lead to enhanced capacity in the fisheries value chain.

The project will contribute to the achievement of SDG 1(No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 13(Climate Action), and 14(Life below Water).