Fish farming pattern changes in Ishwardi

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
The fortunes of fish farming are changing in the rural areas of Ishwardi. Many of the jobless unemployed youths are now self-reliant through fish farming. On reaching Marmi village of Dashuria union, two huge bills will be seen. One is called Chamgara and the other is Padma Bill. There are about 450 ponds scattered across the bill. Fish is being cultivated in every pond. The entrepreneurs of the village have become self-sufficient by farming fish. Fish from the pond here is being shipped to various districts including the capital.
The two banks, about four and a half kilometers long and three kilometers wide, were inundated throughout the previous year. Due to lack of drainage system, paddy was grown on one third of the land in the winter season only. The rest of the land used to be waterlogged. Uncultivated. Bill’s landowners started digging the pond about 15 years ago. All sides of the pond are filled with excavated soil. The bank of the pond is made high and wide for vegetable and fruit cultivation. Hundreds of acres of flooded land are now just ponds and ponds. The number of ponds is increasing every year.
Fishermen said that there is a large part of Chamgara and Padma bill across Marmi village. Besides Sultanpur, Hatigara, Boyra, Shyampur villages also have the boundaries of Bill. Most of the people in the five villages around the bill used to live below the poverty line. The economy here has changed with the change of fortune to fish farming. About 3000 people have been employed in fish farming.
Abu Sufian, a fish farmer of Marmi village, said that the people here are making a living by farming fish. In addition to fish farming, there is an opportunity to grow vegetables and fruits on the banks of the pond. The annual profit from fish farming in three ponds saves the household expenses. Hundreds of fishermen we are now self-sufficient.
Shariful of Muladuli said that he cultivates fish in a total of eight ponds in addition to the 37 bigha pond of Bill. Annual income excluding expenses 15-20 lakhs. There are many fish farmers whose fortunes have changed like mine, he said.
Bakul Sardar, chairman of Dashuria, said that Bill’s land was uncultivated due to waterlogging for many years. Four years ago, the canal was re-excavated and drainage was arranged. Fish farming in about four and a half hundred ponds has a huge impact on the rural economy.
Upazila Fisheries Extension Officer Zakia Sultana said that there are a total of 2,476 ponds in Ishwardi. Muladuli and Dashuria union villages have more ponds. In Marmi and Sultanpur of Dashuria, there is extensive fish farming in the surrounding villages. The fish farmers here have benefited by cultivating indigenous fish.