Status of Stakeholder of Shrimp Marketing Channel in Bagerhat District With a View to Achieving Vision 2008

Abstract

Bagerhat district plays an important role in shrimp producing and exporting regime. About 33% shrimp of Khulna region is producing from Bagerbat district. A survey based study was conducted in Bagerhat district to identify the existing shrimp marketing channel and the steps taken by all stakeholders with a view to achieving the Vision- 2008 (Export earning Tk 10,000 crore). The marketing channel included the stakeholders like gher owner, faria, depot" agent and processing plant. In the present situation shrimp is considered the exporting item assuring good quality product" satisfy the foreign buyers and thus promoting export growth. In this circumstances seven salient features were fixed up for increasing export and production. Environment friendly organic shrimp culture was found in the study area where shrimp processing plants destroyed the environment by dumping and discharging chlorinatedwater and shrimp waste materials arbitrarily. Some concerning factors like source of pure water, irregular icing, improper handling and transportation were identified which affected the food safety and quality of the seafood product. Lower stakeholders like gher owners, farias and depots were less aware about HACCP where as agent and plant complied HACCP system cautiously. In processing plants there was no child labour, less wage was paid to workers and other facilities were partially provided. In ghers wage was paid in terms of cash, food and cloth where as in depots and agents only low rate of cash were paid. Overtime wage were fully absent in whole marketing channel. Infarias and depost some unethical fair trade practices having pushing foreign materials (shabu, juice of ladies finger, water etc.) were observed. In case depots, agents and processing plants lower grade was counted during the procuring where as higher grade was considered during selling period. Without faria all stakeholders had provision to get license. It was found that gher owners were less interested to get license but higher percentage of agents and factories were found having license from the competent authority. Less number of lower stakeholders were aware about traceability and only factory owners were found conscious about it and tried to maintain. In the study it was observed that every stakeholder was improving their status among them depots were significantly improved by this time. This study suggests that the seven salient features must be strictly followed in each stakeholder to achieve the Vision 2008. The Government and other organizations must give more attention to develop this sector.