Khulna: Cluster method shrimp farming has become a boon for many shrimp farmers in Khulna, offering nearly double the yield compared to previous years. The innovative farming approach, spearheaded by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), has provided a new lease on life for farmers who had been grappling with significant losses due to the challenges posed by conventional shrimp farming methods.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the traditional shrimp farming practices had led to substantial losses for several years, exacerbated by shrimp mortality, water salinity, climate change, and diseases. These persistent problems resulted in a financial crisis for shrimp farmers in the Khulna region. However, the introduction of the cluster method-an initiative under the ‘Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries’ project-has offered a promising solution. This project is being implemented across 29 upazilas, including Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jessore, and Gopalganj districts.
Deputy Project Director Saroj Kumar Mistry emphasized that the cluster method has effectively organized coastal and marine fisheries farmers, with 297 clusters comprising 25 enclosures each. These clusters span a total of 5,405 acres of land and have successfully organized 7,378 shrimp farmers, including 1,622 women. The project has also provided farmers with improved technical training and promoted enhanced farming techniques, resulting in increased production and reduced shrimp mortality.
The cluster farming approach, described as a coordinated and institutionalized effort among local farmers, has been instrumental in achieving specific production goals and objectives. Mistry noted that the method not only boosts shrimp production but also plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by developing the coastal agro-economy.
Tapan Kumar Karmoker, Upazila Fisheries Officer in Koyra, reported the formation of ten clusters, with farmers actively participating in the enhancement of enclosure depths and infrastructure improvements. Financial support for these initiatives, including road construction and equipment purchases, has been provided as part of the project efforts.
Local farmers, such as Sheikh Mahtab Hossain and Suvendra Biswas, have reported significant benefits from the cluster system. Hossain, president of the Tipna New Road Prawn Cultivation Cluster, credits the DoF’s guidance for the substantial increase in shrimp production. Biswas, president of the Boro Danga Prawn Farmers Cluster-1, shared his success story of more than doubling production since adopting the cluster method.
Jahangir Alam, Divisional Deputy Director of DoF, highlighted the modernity of the cluster system, which demands specific pond depth requirements and allocates funding only to clusters meeting these conditions. Data from the 2022-23 financial year reveals that production of galda shrimp reached 1,190 kilograms per hectare, while bagda shrimp production stood at 813 kilograms, showcasing the efficacy of the cluster farming approach in enhancing shrimp yields.