How Jashore fisheries output grows amid pandemic

In the midst of the most significant economic slowdown in decades, the fisheries sector in coastal district Jashore proved a mainstay for the economy in the 2020-21 fiscal, that helped Bangladesh avoid recession or even contraction.

Bangladesh’s GDP growth fell from 8.2% in the 2019-20 fiscal to just 3.8% in 2020-21 – the slowest annual growth in the country’s GDP in 30 years. That represents a slump in economic activity that would have been unacceptable in normal times.

But in a year blighted by the virus where we saw most countries experience contraction in their economies (negative growth), Bangladesh’s 3.8% was the fifth-highest GDP growth rate in the world.

The economic downturn brought on by the pandemic affected almost every sector in the country. The impact was pervasive yet uneven. This was the general picture reflected in most economies around the world.

For the record, the world economy did fall into recession in 2020, with the IMF's final assessment estimating it shrank 3.3%.

The fisheries sector emerged as one of the major pillars holding up the economy and helping Bangladesh to avoid a recession. Technically, a country’s economy enters recession once it experiences two successive quarters of negative growth, or contraction. To get out of a recession then requires two successive quarters of growth back.

Apart from the recession, Bangladesh also managed to avoid potentially disruptive events such as a shortage in food stocks, to which fisheries had a direct contribution.

The sector in Jashore especially enjoyed a highly productive period recently, with the 2020-21 output exceeding the target against which they all worked by over 300%. This allowed for not only the local demand in the district to be met - it also left a very decent amount to be transported and sold in some of the more lucrative domestic markets such as capital Dhaka, and even to be exported abroad.

According to the district Fisheries Department, in the unit-wise breakdown of targets for the 2020-21 fiscal, the authorities had set a target of producing 65,589 metric tonnes of fish in the district. But already some 224,858 metric tonnes of fish have been produced, which is three times higher than the target.

A look at past production figures reveals that over the last five fiscals, the total output from Jashore has ranged from 179,998 MT of fish that was produced in the fiscal year 2014-15, to the 205,811 MT in the 2015-16 fiscal; 220,643 MT in 2016-17; 221,358 MT in the 2017-18 fiscal; 222,168 MT in 2018-19 and 223,792 MT in 2019-20.

In fact, not only did production in Jashore smash the authorities’ drastically reduced target, it evcn grew slightly (just 0.5%) over the amount produced in FY20 – a quite remarkable achievement considering the pandemic was present throughout the year.

Use of modern technology, ensuring sanctuary for fishes and the entry of a new band of entrepreneurs hungry for success, have led the charge from day one.

Of the produced fish, 29,072 MT of fish have been produced in Sadar upazila of Jashore, 38,340 MT in Manirampur upazila, 33,999 MT in Keshabpur upazila, 31,105 MT in Jhikargacha upazila, 29,791 MT in Abhaynagar upazila, 25,838 MT in Sharsha, 17,931 MT

in Chougachcha and 8,783 MT in Bagherpara upazila of the district. Besides, the authorities concerned have estimated that the production has increased by about 45,000 metric tonnes in the past six years in the district.

District fisheries officer Anisur Rahman, said currently just over 72,155 hectares of waterbody has been brought under fish cultivation and different varieties of fish including Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Bagda, Galda shrimp, Pangas, Sing, Magur and Koi fish are being produced in the water bodies.

The fish of the district have been supplied to different countries after meeting the demand of local people, he said.

Besides, some 9,301.89 metric tonnes of fish have been exported from India and Middle East countries and the government has earned Tk 3,67,70,155 US dollars (approximately Tk 294 crore) from it as revenue income, he added.

Following the demand of the exporters, new demands have been created in the market including fish producing, packaging and transporting, said Aminur. As a result, a new employment status and revenue sector has been created which has played an important role in the economy of the country, he said.

“Now our main focus is to draw the attention of Middle East and Europe markets,” he added. Referring to the steps taken for increasing fish production in the district, Aminur said “We have taken so many plans in phases. We especially focused on the production and marketing sectors and inspired many young men to become involved in fish farming. Besides, a new variety of fish was also introduced during the process that has boosted the production.”