Shrimp gradually losing global market share

FT ONLINE

Bangladesh's shrimp is gradually losing global market share because of declining production of local species and failure to introduce farming of small-sized vannamei, experts said.

Exports of locally-produced shrimp have declined to $446 million in fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 from $550 million in FY 2013-14, they pointed out.

To boost export earnings and be competitive in the global market, the country needs to introduce vannamei cultivation and increase bagda and black tiger production, the experts suggested.

The observations were made at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) in a city hotel on Tuesday.

Fisheries and livestock minister Narayon Chandra Chanda attended the seminar as the chief guest.

"Shrimp exports have declined both in terms of value and volume in the last two fiscal years after remaining stable over few previous years," said BFFEA president Md Amin Ullah.

Prices of locally produced shrimp have come down by more than 27 per cent in the last three months of 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, he said.

Nittya Ranjan Biswas, former principal scientific officer at the Department of Fisheries (DoF), presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

He said the production of black tiger and galda has dwindled because of shrinking of farming area, seed crisis and price fall.

He recommended changing farming system through use of advanced technology, dredging of canals and rivers, diagnosis of diseases and capacity building for surveillance and control.

Sharing experiences at some international fairs, BFFEA president Amin Ullah said buyers showed much interest in vannamei and offering a low price for local bagda-which is 20 to 30 per cent less than the production cost.

"The global market is flooded with vannamei as it is available at a low rate and the production rate is high," said Profulla Kumar Sarker, former executive director at the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Khulna office.

Additional secretary at the ministry of commerce Munshi Shafiul Haque suggested introducing vannamei cultivation on pilot basis.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice chairman Bijoy Bhattacharjee recommended examining both the advantages and disadvantages for introducing vannamei farming in the country.

He also called for ensuring quality of shrimp, saying that the country faces difficulties in export only for a few unscrupulous traders who inject different substances into shrimp.

Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda criticised the DoF for its failure to take a plan for introducing vannamei farming timely.

He instructed the DoF to take a action plan immediately in this regard.

Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Shipping ministry secretary Md Abdus Samad also spoke at the seminar.