Download Farmed Fish Sector Brief

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
driven by 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.
varieties of 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.
“Small fish farmers will increase
their incomes by diversifying
into more profitable species and
practices.”
Vision
In Phase 3 (2014 - 2017) of the project, Katalyst
has identified that small farmers can increase
their income drastically by culturing high yielding
Implemented by
Funded by
What constraints do we address?
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.
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.
that will build the capacity of local hatcheries.
By establishing linkages with international brood
suppliers, the project is ensuring 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 is establishing
linkages between feed manufacturing companies
and suppliers of quality machineries and raw
materials. To promote the culturing of high value
species, Katalyst has developed sustainable business
models in which hatcheries and input companies can
expand their customer base through promotions
and trainings targeted at small farmers. Katalyst
is also undertaking innovative interventions with
a few private sector procurement companies in
promoting quality fish packaging and in establishing
safe procurement channels in compliance with the
safety standards, certification and traceability. Until
December 2015, Katalyst’s interventions in the
farmed fish sector have benefitted 81,500 farmers*.
Districts
Covered
How do we realise these changes?
In order to provide small farmers with quality
fingerlings, Katalyst and the Bangladesh Fisheries
Research Forum are developing a training model
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
*Validated until September 2015.