PKSF and BSFF sign MoU to develop aquaculture sector

Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) have signed a MoU for sustainable and inclusive growth of Bangladesh aquaculture sector in the city on 05 May, 2015 (Tuesday).

Golam Touhid, Deputy Managing Director (Operations), Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation and Syed Mahmudul Huq, Chairman, Bangladeshis Shrimp and Fish Foundation have signed the MoU at the Conference Room of PKSF.

A policy workshop was also held under ‘Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)’ Project entitled ‘Building trade capacity of small- scale shrimp and prawn farmers in Bangladesh: Investing in the bottom of the pyramid’.

STDF was based on cluster farming approach, establishing backward linkage with the inputs supplies and forward linkage with the market/ processors, addressing the key issues relating to productivity, food safety, environmental sustainability and social acceptability. The project was implemented for the period of 14 months and will be ended by June, 2015.

The Policy workshop aim at building a national consensus on improvement and expansion of shrimp cluster farming through framework-guidelines, introduction of group certifications and responsible use of common property resources aiming –

To increase international market access for shrimp and prawn products originating from small-scale farmers in Bangladesh.

To introduce GAqPs for reducing the risks of diseases in shrimp and Prawn Aquaculture and develop national Code of Conduct for Responsible Aquaculture.

To develop and introduce contract farming arrangements, wherever possible, for production of safe and quality products.

Mr. Abdul Karim, Managing Director, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation chaired the function.

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor, Bangladesh Bank, Mr. Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, former Director General, Asian Development Bank and Executive Director, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Dr. M.A. Sattar Mandal, former Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh Agricultural University and former Member, Planning Commission and Mr. Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh attended the workshop as Special Guests.