Fish farming is being conducted underneath poultry farms in Atgharia upazila of Pabna. The excreta from the farm's chickens is being utilized as fish feed.
Despite bans on using chicken excreta as fish feed, farmers are paying no heed to the restrictions. Experts warn that germs present in chicken excreta enter the fish, increasing diseases. Furthermore, public health is being placed at severe risk by consuming those fish.
Investigations reveal that chicken excreta serves as the primary food source for fish in commercial and integrated farms. Excreta is collected from various poultry farms across the upazila and dumped into ponds. Local conscious circles claim that these farming businesses are run by wealthy and influential individuals of the area.
However, fish farmers stated that due to the excessive price increase of fish feed, they can no longer make ends meet as before. Consequently, they are using chicken excreta as fish feed.
Through a class of traders, fish farmers collect excreta from poultry farms in the upazila and surrounding areas. Knowing that the cheaply available excreta is harmful to public health, the fish farmers continue to use it in their farms as fish feed.
According to the Upazila Fisheries Office, there are 2,652 fish farmers in Atgharia upazila.
Read nextUncle murdered over land dispute, nephew's house set on fire in SherpurAmong them, various species of fish are cultivated in 2,000 to 2,200 commercial fish farms. Approximately 10,840 metric tons of fish are produced annually in these farms.
Upazila Fisheries Officer SM Nazim Uddin stated that chicken excreta contains antibiotic residues, drug-resistant bacteria, and various other disease disinfectants.
When fish consume chicken excreta and humans subsequently eat those fish, these substances enter the human body, which is extremely harmful to health.
Moreover, the excess calcium and phosphorus present in chicken excreta ruin the pond's environment. Fish farmers are being advised through various events and seminars not to use chicken excreta.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Omar Faruk Bulbul said that various types of antibiotics are used in raising poultry, which enter the bodies of fish through excreta and do not get destroyed. Germs enter the human body through the consumption of fish from such farms, which is very harmful to the human body—particularly causing significant damage to the kidneys and liver.
He further added that public representatives, socially conscious people, and everyone must step forward from their respective positions to stop the use of excreta, which is detrimental to public health.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Masud Rana, Atgharia (Pabna), Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
