Masum Hawladar, Bagerhat: The shrimp industry has been hit by the deadly corona virus in Bagerhat, the country`s highest shrimp production district. Farmers are being deprived of fair prices due to the suspension of exports. At the same time, the farmers of the district are facing financial loss like last year as they did not release the fry as per the demand even after finishing the fencing at the beginning of the season. Besides, there has been a crisis in shrimp fry as the transport system has been disrupted since April 14 due to severe lockdown across the country. And this is the reason why the price of Galda-Bagdar Pona has increased several times. Many are being forced to buy pona at higher prices. In such a situation, millions of people involved in the shrimp industry have lost their way.
On the spot, the largest shrimp pona hat in the south-west of the country can be seen by visiting Faylahat in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat. Workers involved in the warehouse have been seen sitting with empty bones due to a crisis in the transport of pona due to the deadly corona virus.
The warehouse keepers and shrimp fry counting workers said that due to the severe lockdown that started on April 14, about 4,000 to 5,000 people, including traders and workers involved in the haat, have become unemployed. On the other hand, if this situation continues, the shrimp farmers of the district will be affected as they will not be able to supply the fry as per the demand at the beginning of the season.
Md. Moniruzzaman, storekeeper of Faylahat, said that Bagda and Galda pona come to this market from Chittagong, Feni, Nookhali and Cox`s Bazar. From morning to afternoon, around half a crore rupees worth of lobster is sold at this market. However, the deadly corona virus has caused a disaster in the market. As there is no supply of shrimp fry like before, fry are not being supplied as per the demand of the farmers. Due to this 95 percent farmers of the district will be affected. About 4,000 to 5,000 people, including traders and workers from different districts involved in the haat, are living helplessly due to the lockdown.
Tariqul Islam, who counts shrimp fry at the market, said that 4,000 to 5,000 people make a living from this foil market on shrimp fry. Fish are not able to come to the foil market due to lockdown due to corona virus. In such a situation we have to sit with a begging bowl. I study but I have to come to the market today to support my family. “I got a thousand fish and I got the poison money. I have to come to the market today for this poison money. Even then, if it is stopped by lockdown, then who will give me this poison money. "No one will feed me. I have to come to support my family."
Hakim Sheikh, who counts shrimp fry, said, “The fry are not coming, how can we survive. There are sons and daughters at home and there are mothers. We have a way to die without eating.
Bagerhat District Fisheries Officer SM Russell said the price of fish has come down due to the impact of corona. As a result, the marginal farmers of the district are suffering more. Due to the suspension of exports, the loss to the shrimp industry in Bagerhat in the last one year will be Tk 140 crore and the total loss will be around Tk 250 crore. In the meantime, there has been a crisis in the market. There is a demand of 77 crore Bagda and 21 crore Galda Pona in Bagerhat. It is not possible to meet the demand for pona in any way if the lockdown situation continues due to the effect of corona. If this continues, the amount of financial loss will increase over time. However, the government has adopted several plans to overcome the losses of farmers. As part of this, 28,000 fish farmers in the district are being given financial incentives as well as loan facilities from banks for farmers on easy terms.
