Today, the Department of Fisheries in Chattogram participated in an inaugural ceremony hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to showcase and distribute upgraded fish drying technology.
According to an FAO press release, the occasion represented a significant turning point in the organization’s continuous efforts to enhance fish drying procedures and guarantee better financial, health, and environmental results for the nearby fishing communities.
According to the Bangladesh Fisheries Statistics Yearbook, in 2023, Bangladesh produced 0.71 million tons of dried fish (about 15pc of the total fish production of 4.76 million tons), comprising 85pc marine and 15 pc freshwater. To strengthen capacity of stakeholders in the production of high quality safe dried fish products for consumers at home and abroad, adoption of alternative technology for dried fish production is crucial.
It is also integral to process to reduce exposures of harmful chemicals and pesticides during traditional sun drying and marketing of dried fish.
Traditional sun drying of fish in Bangladesh is climate dependent and done at open spaces where insect infestations by beetle and fly are a real problem. Hazardous pesticides or chemicals are often used as a cheaper solution to eliminate insects during drying and storage of dried fish that pose serious public health risks.
In order to address these health risks and promote widespread use of a different fish drying technology, better drying racks covered with mosquito nets were planned to be installed in a few Bangladeshi locations.
The Department of Fisheries’ Director General, Md. Abdur Rouf, and FAO Bangladesh’s Senior Technical and Policy Advisor, Martijn Van DE Groep, were present at the ceremony. The Deputy Director, DoF, Chattogram, Md. Anwar Hossain, presided over the occasion.
Through this programme, FAO introduced and will distribute 93 improved fish drying racks across the country. These innovative drying systems are part of a larger initiative that seeks to promote sustainable fishing practices, enhance the quality and marketability of dry fish products, and reduce post-harvest losses. The initiative is done under FAO’s Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Pesticide Risk Reduction in Bangladesh project.
Communities in Bangladesh where dry fish production is the main source of income are the focus of this effort.
Additionally, recipients will get specialized instruction on how to operate and maintain these new drying racks. Along with the distribution, many workshops will be held to discuss appropriate fish drying procedures, hygiene precautions, and ways to improve the quality of dried fish products for increased marketability.
Md Abdur Rouf stated, “The dry fish sector contributes 2.43% to the national GDP, 22.14pc to the agricultural GDP and 1.05% to the total national exports.”
“By generating foreign exchange and bolstering the local economy, dry fish has already become a significant contributor to the country’s economic development. We need to provide training and support to make sure that our fishermen have necessary skills and knowledge to do their tasks effectively,” he said.
Martijn Van De Groep, Senior Technical and Policy Adviser, emphasised the importance of adaptation of newly invented fishing technologies. “FAO’s work in sustainable fisheries includes the development and promotion of standards and good practices to achieve an equitable and compliant sector. Today’s initiative is a step towards making Bangladesh become more sustainable in the global dry food business,” he said.
