Fish cultivation in cages attracts farmers in Rangamati

Fish cultivation in cages set in open water bodies encourages farmers in Rangamati Sadar upazila.

Several youths have started cultivating monosex tilapia in cages in the Kaptai Lake adjacent to Kabukke Para, Jarul Chhari Para in Balukhali union under Sadar upazila and Jibtoli Para of Kaptai upazila in the district.

Shisihir Chakma, 32, a youth of  Kabukke village of Balukhali union in Rangamati Sadar upazila, said he decided to be a fish farmer after reading a newspaper write-up about fish farming and seeing on YouTube about fish farming in cages last year.

“I along with my elder brother went to Rangamati Sadar upazila fisheries office a few months ago. With the help of Sadar upazila fisheries office, we built four cages, each 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, with net, bamboo and plastic barrels. “The cages, costing Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 each, can be used for eight to ten years. We started tilapia cultivation a month ago and hope to get profit by selling fish within a couple of months,” said Sishir.

Udayan Dewan, 48, of the same area, said he invested Tk 4 lakh for cultivating fish in 35 cages.

“In April this year I started with 35,000 tilapia larvae in 35 cages. I expect that I will make a profit of around Tk 25 lakh after three months,” he said.

Under the “National agriculture technology project” in Rangamati Sadar upazila, district fisheries office set 20 cages in the water bodies of Kaptai Lake and 14,000 tilapia fish larvae were distributed among the cultivators, said officials at District Fisheries Office.

Muhammad Belal Hossen, Sadar upazila fisheries officer, said, “Tilapia cultivation in cages requires a small investment and effort but it brings good profit. We give necessary suggestions to the farmers for cultivating fish in cages.”

“Some 800 to 1,000 larvae of tilapia is kept in each cage for rearing. The cage method helps fish to grow faster and so, farmers can get good profit,” he added.