Prawn (Galda) production in the country witnessed a sharp rise in the fiscal year 2011-12 (FY12) compared to that in the previous fiscal (FY11), and continued the upward trend till fiscal year 2016-2017 (FY17).

According to official data, 45,162.95 tonnes of prawn were produced in FY12 on 65,777 hectares of land which was 30,868 tonnes in FY11 on 62,874 hectares of land.  

Department of Fisheries (DOF) data also revealed that prawn production stood at

• 43,713 tonnes on 65,221 hectares of land in FY13
• 42,097 tonnes on 59,972.23 hectares of land in FY14
• 42,053 tonnes on 59,115 hectares of land in FY15
• 46,189 tonnes on 68,746 hectares of land in FY16
• 48,574 tonnes on 67,063 hectares of land in FY17

The giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), called Galda in Bangla, are being trapped and reared with other fishes in the tidal pond and low lands, said the DOF.

Generally, the species were harvested from the river/canals, floodplains and beel areas which have connectivity with rivers.

At present Macrobrachium is being cultured in an organised way with other aquaculture such as monoculture, poly-culture as well as other fishes and aquaculture in paddy fields.

The unit production of Galda under the different systems ranged from 375kg/ha to 750kg/ha. The highest production was observed in monoculture (760kg/ha).