The government has disbursed around Tk 260 million as loans to the entrepreneurs of fisheries sector to help offset the financial losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an official said.
The loans have been disbursed following the Prime Minister's declared Tk 50 billion stimulus package to save the country's agriculture sector from the financial losses inflicted by the novel coronavirus.
"Upon the directives of the government the banks until July have disbursed Tk 260 million to 1,326 entrepreneurs of fisheries sector so far," additional director general and chief scientific officer of the department of fisheries Md Ramzan Ali told the FE.
He said several public and private banks have disbursed loans with only four per cent interest.
He said that the fisheries department which is under the ministry of fisheries and livestock (MoF&L) has been supervising the matter.
He also said that process is underway to provide loans to more fishermen.
The fisheries department official further said with the loans, the fish farmers and fishermen could buy fish feeds and others inputs for boosting fish production.
The government has taken measures to save the country's fisheries sector from the possible financial damages inflicted by the pandemic.
Under the move, the MoF&L has taken short, mid and long-term measures to help save the sector from the pandemic fallout.
The measures include giving incentives to fish farmers, fishermen and shrimp exporters to keep the production wheel of the sector running.
The official also informed that fisheries and livestock minister S M Rezaul Karim has also requested the stakeholders and concerned government departments to help the fish farmers and fishermen gear up fish production, supply and marketing.
The MoF&L has also directed the officials of the department to coordinate with the deputy commissioners and law enforcement agencies including police to ensure the supply chain of fisheries free from disruption during the coronavirus-induced crisis.
The MoF&L has launched hotline telephone number 02-9122557 so that the fish farmers can get help/information/advices from government.
Bangladesh is one of the world's leading fish-producing countries.
Average growth performance of this sector is 5.26 per cent for the last 10 years.
The aquaculture production contributes 56.24 per cent of the total fish production in the country.
Bangladesh has already emerged a self-sufficient country in fish production, with a per capita fish consumption of 62.58 g/ day against a set target of 60 g/day.
The country exported 68,935 tonnes of fish and fisheries items worth US $514 million in fiscal year 2017-18, according to the fisheries department.
