Gaibandha Representative/
There was no rain in Gaibandha last month of Chaitra and Baisakh. Due to continuous lack of rain, water is empty in almost all the ponds and canals-beel-rivers of the district. As a result, there is a fear of shortage in fish production due to drying up of reservoirs. At the same time, the fishermen are facing losses.

According to the sources of Gaibandha District Fisheries Department, there are 25,000 privately owned ponds, 114 private ponds, and 331 government ponds in the district where fish can be cultivated. Besides, fish farming is done in paddy fields in 803 lands, canals in 42, rivers in 6, Abhayashram in 29, railway reservoirs in 19 and in 201 flood lands.

It is known that the annual demand of fish in Gaibandha district is 48 thousand 631 metric tons. Production is 46 thousand 850 metric tons. Every year there is a deficit of 1 thousand 781 metric tons. However, due to lack of timely rain this year, ponds, drains, canals, ponds have become empty. Therefore, the fish farmers could not release the fish fry in the pond.

Lokman Hossain of Srirampur village in Sadullapur said, I have four ponds. I make a living by farming fish there. At this time of the year the pond is filled with rainwater. But this year the ponds are completely empty of water. Due to which I could not release the fish fry in the pond yet.

Hatchery owner of Gobindganj Noor Alam Mia said that the fish farmers are not coming to take the fry as the reservoir has dried up. As a result, I am facing loss.

Abdul Jalir Miah of Bowali village of Gaibandha Sadar said, “We are trying to release the fish fry by using water in the pond with the sallow machine. The water in the pond is drying up due to the heat. Because of this, I don’t have the courage to release the fish fry in the pond.

Salim Ahmed Tulip, the lessee of Ghuridah Bill of Saghata Upazila, said that the pond has been leased. But still the fish fry could not leave. Flooding is likely if there is extra rain in the coming days. Then if the pond sinks and floods, there will be no way out without loss.

Gaibandha District Fisheries Officer Faisal Azam told CNBangladesh that there are 18,675 registered fishermen in the district. And 34 thousand 227 people are directly involved in fish farming. Due to lack of rain in the previous months of this year, due to lack of water in some privately owned ponds, pona cannot be released yet. However, some number of fish farmers are doing fish farming with irrigation.