The shrimp sector in Bangladesh is unique. More than 95 percent of shrimp and prawns in Bangladesh are produced in extensive polyculture ponds that were formerly used as rice ponds and are locally referred to as “ghers.”
The division of Khulna accounts for 95 percent of the total production of freshwater prawn (m. Rosenbergii). Production in Khulna is concentrated in the northern parts, in Satkhira and Bagerhat, and the southern part of Jessore. Black tiger shrimp (p. Monodon) is mainly produced in Khulna (70 percent), although the division of Chittagong also makes a significant contribution at 25 percent of total production. Cultivation is mostly done by small-scale farmers; between one and five percent of production comes from semi-intensive farms. Small-scale farmers usually sell their harvests to middlemen or at auction. This results in a fragmented supply chain with a lot of “owners” of the shrimp. However, various supply-chain initiatives have been developed to ensure a shorter route from farmer to processor.
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