Farmed Fish Sector Brief
Why are we in this sector?
Bangladesh’s farmed fish sector has a huge potential
to lift small and poor farmers out of poverty while
contributing to inclusive economic growth. The
sector can make an impactful contribution to the
Government of Bangladesh’s poverty alleviation
strategy by creating self-employment, accelerating
economic development, and earning foreign
currency through export business, as well as meeting
nutritional requirements.
Currently, Bangladesh has become the fourth largest
farmed fish producer in the world. The key factor for
this development is the ever-growing demand for
fish due to population increase and rapid economic
advancement. However, many small fish farmers do
not benefit from this development to an adequate
extent due to their low investment capacity and lack
of access to quality inputs and appropriate knowhow, among other factors.
species such as Tilapia, Pangus, Koi, Small Indigenous
Species (SIS), and fresh water prawn. These species
benefit poor fish farmers because of their high
productivity and profitability, and their cultivation is
within the investment capacity and skill level of small
fish farmers.
Katalyst is working with various service providers
from the private sector in order to ensure greater
inclusion of small farmers in the farmed fish value
chain. With a combination of private sector incentives
and Katalyst’s know-how, it is possible to harness the
economic potential of the farmed fish sector for small
farmers by improving the production and marketing
of high-value fish species.
Vision
In phase 3 (2014 - 2017) of the project, Katalyst
has identified that small farmers can increase their
income drastically by culturing high yielding variety of
Implemented by
Funded by
“Small fish farmers will increase
their incomes by diversifying
into more profitable species and
practices.”
What constraints do we address?
How do we realise these changes?
High quality inputs such as fingerlings, commercial
feed and aqua-chemicals are key factors for
commercially-profitable fish farming. However,
small fish farmers lack access to these inputs as
private companies usually cater to medium and large
fish farmers only. Even when small farmers have
improved access to quality inputs, they have limited
knowledge on effective cultivation techniques.
Additionally, improper post-harvest management
practices by small farmers result in considerable
wastage of produced fish. Katalyst works across
these three areas (quality inputs; flow of information
and knowledge; post-harvest management) in order
to help increase the income of small and poor fish
farmers.
In order to provide small farmers with quality
fingerlings, Katalyst and the Bangladesh Fisheries
Research Forum developed a training model that
would build the capacity of local hatcheries. By
establishing linkages with international brood
suppliers, the project ensured that hatcheries have
access to reputed Tilapia, Pangus and Koi brood
sources to cater for a growing demand of quality
fingerlings. In order to improve the quality and
quantity of fish feed, Katalyst established linkages
between feed manufacturing companies and
suppliers of quality machineries and raw materials. To
promote the culturing of high value species, Katalyst
developed sustainable business models in which
hatcheries and input companies could expand their
customer base through promotions and trainings
targeted at small farmers. Katalyst also undertook
innovative interventions with a several private sector
procurement companies in promoting quality fish
packaging and in establishing safe procurement
channels in compliance with the safety standards,
certification and traceability. Furthermore, the project
facilitated some of these procurement companies to
establish modern hygienic safe fish selling outlets
that offer an assortment of contamination free fish
to the consumers and institutional buyers. In Phase 3,
until December 2016, Katalyst’s interventions in the
farmed fish sector have benefitted 299,864* farmers.
What changes do we want to see?
To overcome the constraints above, Katalyst works
together with a broad range of private sector actors:
150 local hatcheries will provide quality fingerlings
to small fish farmers. Seven major feed companies
will improve the quality and increase the quantity
of fish feed available. More than one hundred
hatcheries and six input companies will promote the
benefits of high value fish species and offer training
on effective cultivation techniques. Aqua-input
companies, private packaging companies and traders
will design improved post-harvest solutions for small
farmers. With improved access to quality inputs,
information on profitable cultivation techniques, and
enhanced post-harvest skills, small fish farmers will
be able to increase their income and lift themselves
out of poverty. Private procurement companies will
strengthen their supply channel and avail certified
branded safe fish through improved distribution
channel and modern outlets.
Districts
Covered
*Validated until December 2016.
Katalyst Project Office
House 20, Road 6, Baridhara Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh
Phone +88 (02) 883 3172-4 Fax +88 (02) 883 5452
www.katalyst.com.bd www.swisscontact.org