Woman feeding fish in Khulna, Bangladesh

Feed production is an important part of the aquaculture value chain as the quality directly impacts the productivity and profitability of a fish farm.

To improve feed quality in Bangladesh, a new project funded by Katalyst and implemented by WorldFish commenced on 1 October 2014.

The project aims to upgrade the feed production practices of more than 20 major fish feed producers in Bangladesh in order to improve commercial feed quality.

Part of the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish, the Market development for quality feed production in Bangladesh project will also promote the use of smaller, farmer-operated ‘semi-auto’ feed mills, which will improve access to feeds in areas not well served by major manufacturers.

In collaboration with international private sector service providers, the project will provide training on feed formulation and machine operation to feed mill staff and owners of ‘semi-auto’ feed mills to both improve quality and reduce costs.

Strengthening aquaculture feed manufacturing will contribute to a greater supply of affordable farmed fish for the country’s poor consumers.

Fish is an important part of a healthy diet and contains essential fatty acids and micronutrients that are vital for growth and brain development in children.

Increased availability of affordable fish could help to reduce micronutrient deficiencies, which affect approximately 20 million people across Bangladesh.

The project is led by WorldFish