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Dried fish production on the rise in Chalan Beel area


Published : 10 Nov 2022 08:30 PM

Like every year, the process of dry production of native fish species has started in Chalan Beel, the famous fish store of the northern region of the country. Traders and workers are now having a busy time at the over 200 fish drying ranches in the region for the purpose of producing dried fish. Due to continuous few days of rain and increased monsoon water, the fish were a little less and they were having trouble drying them.

Traders have made sheds for the production of dry fruits in various areas of Tarash, Raiganj, Ullapara, Pabna Chatmohar, Pabna, Faridpur, Singra, Natore, Gurdaspur, Atrai Upazila of Naogaon, Sirajganj, Raiganj, Ullapara, Gurdaspur, Naogaon.

After investigating, it can be seen that various types of delicious fish including Tengra, Punti, Khalse, Batasi, Chela, Mala, Taki, Baim, Shoal, Gutam, Boal, Gajar, Magur, Shing, Koi, Nandai, Bele are being dried.

It is known that from September to December, dried fish traders of this region produce these dried fishes by making shed around different fish beds. 10 to 15 workers work in each shed. However, women workers are more in number among them. Dried fishes are made from these sheds will be supplied to different regions of the country after meeting the needs of the area. Each raw fish is bought at the rate of 7 thousand to 10 thousand taka. Later, 1 kg of dry fish is prepared from every 3 kg of raw fish. They sell these dried fish wholesale at the price of 2 thousand to 16 thousand mounds.

Dried fish traders said that during the monsoon season, a large amount of fish is caught in Chalan Beel. They buy these fish from the local market in the morning or afternoon. After that, he took it and dried it. However, its price is a little higher in urban areas. Even though production of Shutki has started in Chalan Beel, it will take another month to market it. They produce dried fishes and produce packets. Then during the dry season they sell to different parts of the country according to demand. Some people sell the dried fish made in shed to the wholesalers from shed within 10-15 days.

Rahim, Alam and a few fishermen of Mahishluti area of Tarash upazila said that during the dry season, they earn their living by working as laborers in fields and farms. However, as there is no work during the monsoon season, they catch fish from Chalan Beel with dry nets throughout the night. They said, many people sell fish after hunting. Again they sell the fishes in dry market.

Shed owner Ahmed Ali said there are many benefits in dry fish business. Apart from that, there is a huge demand for dried fish in Chalan Beel. In the sheds, there are tengra, puti, khalse, batasi, chela, mala, dhela, taki, gutam, chingri, taki and various fishes which are licked and sprinkled to dry.

Tarash Upazila Fisheries Officer Mashgul Azad said that 95 metric tons of dried fish were produced in Tarash Upazila last year alone. Production of dry fruits is expected to be more than last year.