Commercial Aquafeed Farm in Bangladesh

Introduction:

Bangladesh has abundant water resources with 1.5 million ha of perennial and 2.8 million ha of seasonal inland waters, in addition to a coastline of 710 km. From the remote past various types of fish culture are practiced in our country but among them traditional culture was the most prominent. With the progress of technology and increasing demand different types of improved culture technique are now being practiced in our country. As a result huge quantity of supplementary feed has to provide to the cultured species. With the increasing technology, the demand of supplementary feed is gradually increasing. The demand has increased 1.5 times greater than the previous five years. So the prospect of aquafeed industry is very bright in our country. Against a backdrop of rapid population increase without concomitant increase in fish production, the per capita consumption of fish has dropped from 33 kg in 1963-64 to 20.5 kg in 1989-90, compared to the recommended level of 38 kg. As a principal source of animal protein, fish production has to be increased manifold to meet the requirement in Bangladesh. This demonstrates a real possibility of increasing production and reveals the potential importance of aquafeeds in Bangladesh. Recently some shrimp farmers began to use supplementary and/or complete feeds for shrimp culture, which increased production from 200 kg/ha to 1,200-1,600 kg/ha.

Aquafeed Industry:

Feed is a compound which content nutrient in digestible form which meets the requirement of life. Aquafeed is the feed for the aquatic animal especially for the commercially culturable species. In the past there was no necessity of supplementary (industrial) feed in traditional aquaculture. With the increasing of our demand the form of aquaculture has totally changed. We became dependent on supplementary feed for better production. So aquafeed industry is the demand of the time.

Figure 01: Saudi Bangla Fish Feed Industry that we visited.

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Importance of Aquafeed Industry in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh is blessed with various types of aquatic body. Different types of aquatic organisms are cultured in these water bodies. As the main aim of aquaculture is minimum input and maximum output, so to increase the production supplementary feed is an essential part of aquaculture. Quality feed increase the production. So to produce quality feed there is an importance of feed industry.

In the agro-based economy of Bangladesh, fisheries play an important role in nutrition, employment and foreign exchange earning, contributing 5% to GDP, 10% to export earning, 73% to animal protein intake, in addition to providing 1.4 m people full time and 11 m part time employment. The vast water resources covering 4.3 m ha of inland water and 480 km coast line with sub-tropical climate, and suitable soil and water conditions offer a very high potential for fisheries and aquaculture development. Out of total fish production of 1.08 m tons, inland open water capture fisheries generate 51%, inland fresh and brackish water aquaculture 25% and marine capture 24%.

Moreover prawn and shrimp plays an important role in our national economy. 20,000 ha land in our country is under prawn culture. The success of prawn culture depends on the supplementary feed. We earn a lot of foreign currency by exporting prawn and shrimp product. For the better production of prawn and shrimp feed is one of the main factors. So there is an importance of feed industry in our country.

Present Status of Aquafeed Industry in Bangladesh:

The success of intensive and semi-intensive fish culture depends to a large extent on the application of suitable feeds, although other considerations, such as stocking density, the ecology of the water body, the physico-chemical conditions of the water, etc., also have a bearing. Fish feeds provide nutrients for optimum fish growth and bring higher economic return to farmers.

Although Bangladesh is rich in water resources suitable for aquaculture, intensive aquaculture is almost absent and semi-intensive aquaculture is only a recent trend. Thus the demand for compounded complete and supplementary feeds is very low, being only 3,000-4,000 t/yr. Moreover, farmers make their own aquafeeds on-farm. Because of low demand, the fish feed industry has not yet developed. In 1990, an aquafeed mill named Saudi-Bangla Fish Feed Mill was established by the Saudi-Bangla Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company, as a joint venture between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. Its equipment was supplied by the Nanlien Corporation, Taiwan, and the mill was installed under the consultancy and engineering services of the supplier. Originally the mill was designed to produce shrimp feed, with a capacity of 6,000 t/yr but fish feed manufacture is also feasible and said to be in effect. The major ingredients for manufacturing the compound shrimp and fish feeds of this mill are local. Many feed industries

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have been established in our country in the recent few years. Some of the industries have become very popular to the aqua farmers in producing aquafeed. These are-

i. Saudi Bangla Feed (Mymensingh)ii. Fresh Fish Feed (Dhaka)iii. Quality Feed (Dhaka, Gazipur)iv. Niribili Feed (Cox’s Bazar)v. Usha Feed (Jessore)vi. Premium Feed (Jessore)vii. Excel Feed (Dhaka)viii. Aftab Feed (Dhaka)ix. Titas Feed (Khulna)x. North Khulna (Khulna)xi. Renata Agro Industries Limited(Gazipur)xii. Bijoy Agro Feed & Fisheries Ltd.(Comilla)xiii. Advanced Poultry & Fish Feeds Ltd (Gazipur)xiv. ACI Godrej Agrovet Private Ltd (Narshingdi)xv. Quality Feeds Limited (Bagherbazar, Gazipur.)xvi. Shahjahanpur, (Bogra)xvii. Nondigram, (Bogra)xviii. Nourish Poultry & Hatchery Ltdxix. Al Momen Feed Mill (Itakhola, Shibpur,Narsingdi)xx. Agata Feed Mills Ltd (Kurpai, Burichong Bangladesh)

Figure 02: Location of Aquafeed industries on map (Red map sign means, Aquafeed farms locate on that district).

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Different Types of Aquafeed:

With the increasing demand of feed many company have establish feed industry in different part of the country. Most of the industries are mainly involved in the production of prawn feed. About

80% of the feed that is produced is prawn feed. The popular feed in the market are Saudi Bangla Feed, Fresh Fish Feed, Quality Feed, Niribili Feed, Usha Feed, Premium Feed, Excel Feed, Aftab Feed, Titas Feed, North Khulna. The Fresh Fish Feed is now the most popular in the market. Other companies feed are also used in the market.

Usha Brand has different types of feed. They are:

i. Usha Nursery Shrimp Feedii. Usha Starter Shrimp Feed

iii. Usha Special Shrimp Feed

Premium Brand has also different types of feed. They are:

i. Premium Nursery Shrimp Feedii. Premium Starter Shrimp Feed

iii. Premium Special Shrimp Feed

Other companies have also different types of feed that are available in the market and are commonly used by the farmers.

Sources of Ingredients:

Faced with the food supply problem for cultured fish, nutritionist from other parts of the world have done more work evaluating alternate protein sources in aquaculture diets during the last 15 years than during the previous 60 years. A review of various literature shows that practically no potential feed material has been ignored. These sources are categorized into 3 groups:

1. Vegetable (soy meal, rice or wheat bran, etc.)2. Animal (bone/blood meal, fish meal/silage, etc.)3. Potential sources not yet commercialized (e.g. water hyacinth, aroid

leaves, etc.)4. Bacteria and yeasts

Different types of ingredient are used in feed formulation in our country. The common types of the following potential ingredients will be included:-

Slaughter house wastes (intestines, stomachs, etc.) Blood meal

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Fish meal (of 3 different categories) Fish silage Bone meal Till (sesame) cake Oil cake (Mustard, Brassica spp) Soybean meal Soybean oil Coconut bran Wheat bran Rice bran Cotton seed meal Barley Potato – mainly for preparing starch Rice Maize Salt Vitamin Shark oil Cod liver oil Molasses (of 3 different categories including one used for

feeding cattles) Aroid leaves (Colocasia spp) Water hyacinth (whole plant, leaves, roots, flowers) Other locally available potential raw materials that are not used

for any useful purposes or are under-utilized Yeasts

Price of some important fish feed ingredients and their storage time are given below-

Product Price(tk/kg) Storage timeWheat bran (large size) 10-12 8 monthsWheat bran (small size) 12 3-4 months

Mustard oil cake 13 9-12 monthsSoybean 16 9-10months

Crushed rice 11 3-4 monthsRice polish 6.8 4-5 monthsRice flour 12 4-5 months

Wheat 10 3-4 months

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Potentiality of Aquafeed Industry in Bangladesh:

Fish are probably the most efficient converter of feed to flesh requiring less than 2 lb of basic feed stuffs to produce 1 lb of fish. However, in contrast to land animals, fish are fastidious eater in that they require higher levels of dietary protein. Feed stuffs of vegetable origin are as a whole lower in protein content when compared with those of animal origin. In addition, the presence of high amounts of carbohydrates, fibre, and other organic molecules such as glucosides, phytates, and cyclopropenes in these sources present the nutritionists with problems that are generally not encountered with sources of animal origin. Despite these problems, practically all the commercially used feed stuffs are being used to some extent in commercial aquaculture diets. In a land of agriculture like Bangladesh vegetable sources are always there in plenty to be used in different proportions in potential formulated fish feeds. An International Network of Feed Information Centres has been established which records nutrients profile of feed stuffs available in many countries around the world. From all these discussion it is now apparent that the formulation, utilization and acceptability of manufactured feeds for the fish thus constitute an important subject of research for the development of aquaculture in Bangladesh. To do all these the first important thing is to select potential ingredients available in this country.

In Bangladesh, a large variety of indigenous raw materials and agricultural wastes considerably rich in nutrients ultimately go waste without being properly utilized for useful purpose. To name some of these are: fish meal, frog waste meal, oil cake, rice and wheat bran, leaves vegetables and other animal and agricultural wastes. There may be more too that can added to this list. However, detail information about their availability, economy, and biochemical composition are yet to be fully known. Without knowing this: information a systematic approach towards making a sound and effective national policy for formulation and manufacture of fish feed from local ingredients can not be made. The present proposal is expected to provide all this fundamental information.

On-Farm Feed Formulation and Manufacturing:

Small-scale feed mills or feed manufacturing workshops on fish farms are very simple, typically having a single grinder and one pelleting machine. Such feed mills usually use the grains and grain processing wastes which are locally available, such as wheat or rice bran, mixed with small amounts of fish meal and oil cakes. Their formulation commonly follows the advice of local fisheries extension agents and is based on the availability of feed ingredients in the vicinity.

In traditional fish culture, farmers stock their ponds but usually do not use any supplemental feed. With increasing demand and market value, farmers are now beginning to use supplementary feeding to increase the production of cultured fish. Here in table 1 shows price of aquafeed.

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Table 1. Prices of aquafeeds from the Saudi-Bangla Fish Feed Factory (Bangladesh)

Feed type Price(USD/kg)Fish Feed(protein%)

Nursery (30%) 0.64Grower (26%) 0.38

Shrimp Feed(protein)Nursery (40%) 1.14Starter-1 (39%) 1.02Starter-2 (38%) 1.02Grower (36%) 1.02Finisher (35%) 1.02

Flow chart of manufacturing process is given below-

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Receiving of Ingredients

Sieving, Drying and Cooling

Packing

Grinding

Mixing

Conditioning

Pelleting

Storage & Distribution

Brief descriptions are given below-

Grinding: Process of reducing particle size.

Grinding equipments:a. Hammer Mills:

Figure 03: Hammer mill.b. Roller Mills:

Figure 04: Roller millMixing: The process is as important as grinding. If we grind ingredients but then we should mix them homogenously. So mixing is done-

• To assist in obtaining a more homogenous grind,

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• To increase the efficiency of the grinding process: e.g. high oil content ingredient such as fish meal, full fat soybean meal,

Mixing equipments: a. Vertical mixers: Grinded ingredients are sent to vertical mixers, the spiral container

transport the ingredients above of the mixer. Spiral material helps to mix them while transporting.

Figure 05: Vertical mixer.b. Horizontal mixers.

Figure 06: Horizontal mixer.

Conditioning: It provides-• To mix water, steam and oils in the dry material (mixed ingredients),• To moisturizing the feed particles,• To transfer the steam’s heat in to the particles.• Water, steam and oils are added respectively.

Marketing System of Fish Feed:

Marketing System:

In fish feed marketing a number of intermediaries worked and delivered demands for goods like fish feed for fish farmers. Various intermediaries like, dealer, sub-dealers who are working in the fish feed marketing channels are described.

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Marketing Channel :

The marketing channel or channel of distribution is a path trace in the direct or indirect transfer of ownership to a product as it moves from a producer to ultimate consumer or industrial users.

Figure 07: Distribution channel of fish feed

Based on figure the following channels of distribution can be identified-

Channel I: Fish feed mill Dealer Fish farmChannel II: Fish feed mill Fish farm. Channel III: Fish feed mill Dealer Sub-dealer Fish farm

Transportation:

The speed and flexibility of the transportation system affect inventory and other storage costs throughout fish feed marketing system. Transportation costs affect the location of fish feed, location of plants and feed distribution warehouses. Finally, transportation expenses contribute to the size of the feed marketing margin and thus influence farm and consumer feed prices.

Current National Regulations for Aquafeed Industries:

As the manufacture of aquafeeds is new to Bangladesh, no specific regulations are existent to control their processing or sale. The government has allowed the aquafeed industry to develop under industrial regulations. Existing import policies do not permit the import of aquafeeds or feed ingredients, other than chemical-like ingredients. Each manufactured product must be tested

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and certified by the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution before marketing under the regulations in practice.

Current Problems and Constraints:

Though Bangladesh has vast water bodies suitable for aquaculture, fish and shrimp culture is still traditional in nature. Intensive aquaculture is not yet practiced and semi-intensive aquaculture is a recent thrust. Current problems and constraints in the manufacturing and use of aquafeeds in the country are:

Demand for and use of manufactured aquafeeds is very low and not yet conducive to the development of commercial production;

Information on the nutritional requirements of indian major carps for grow-out fish are available but not for nursery and broodfish. For catfish and other target species, nutritional studies are incomplete and knowledge is insuf- ficient for the formulation and manufacture of feeds;

Information on the digestibility of locally available ingredients is not available; Some important ingredients, such as good quality fish meal, soybean meal, growth

promoting substances, fungicides and preservatives are not avail- able; Some potential fish feed ingredients, such as blood meal, viscera meal, slaughterhouse

wastes, poultry processing wastes, silkworm pupae, etc., are not available in processed and refined form;

Research on the development of suitable aquafeeds is incomplete and hence no technology is available to produce good quality aquafeeds on a commercial basis;

Skilled manpower in fish feed manufacturing and fish nutrition is insufficient; Funding for research and development is inadequate. Lack of proper equipment and

machinery seriously hinders aquafeed research and develop- ment;

Consideration for the Establishment of a Aquafeed Mill:

If we want to establish a fish feed mill we have to consider the following factors:A. The ConceptB. Requirements of a Feed MillC. Planning the Project

A. The Concept:i. Type of Factory

ii. Marketing Appreciationiii. Costs and Capital Requirementsiv. Development and Other Grantsv. Location

B. Requirements of a Feed Mill:

B.1 Production

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B.1.1 Material handlingB.1.1.1 Weighbridge for both deliveries and dispatchesB.1.1.2 Adequate handling facilities for rapid material flowB.1.1.3 Adequate storage space for bulk and sacked materials

B.1.2 Product manufacturingB.1.2.1 Size reductionB.1.2.2 Conveying

B.1.3 WarehouseB.1.3.1 Protection from elementsB.1.3.2 Rodent and insect pests control

B.1.4 LaboratoryB.1.4.1 Raw material checkB.1.4.2 Product quality control

C. Planning the Project: Phase One – Inception Phase Two – Design Phase Three – Construction From the above consideration, we have all the facilities in Bangladesh to establish

fish feed mill.

Manpower and their technical knowledge:

A huge number of people are involved in aquafeed industries. But most of them have no institutional background. They have no knowledge about the nutritional requirement of fish species. They only work as a labour. There is no training institute to teach the labour about feed formulation techniques. So they are still in the dark in this field.

Conclusion:

Due to increasing demand for aquafeeds, investors have now taken keen interest in the establishment of new mills. Two private enterprises, Rakamary Matsha Khamar and Bengal Fisheries International, have already planned to establish new fish/shrimp feed mills. In this connection, the proprietor of Rakamary Matsha Khamar has already communicated with FRI and the Saudi-Bangla Fish Feed Mill and has visited Singapore. There is hope that the new mills will be established in the near future.

References:

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F.F.R.S. 1987. Fish catch statistics of Bangladesh (1984-85). Fisheries Resources Survey System, Department of Fisheries, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 13 p.

F.R.I. 1989. Survey of potential fish feed ingredients of Bangladesh on the basis of their availability and biochemical composition. Research Project Report No.1; Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. 70 p.

G.O.B. 1986. The Third Five Year Plan, Government of Bangladesh, 1986-1990. Chapter V.C. Fisheries. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 11 p.

G.O.B. 1991. The Fourth Five Year Plan, Government of Bangladesh, 1991-95. Chapter V.C. Fisheries. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 13 p.

Haque, M.Z. and M.M. Hossain. 1191. Progress Report on the development of nursery pond management methods for optimizing production of fry/fingerlings of carps. Manu- script. Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. 15 p.

Islam M.A. 1989. Fish seed productionin Bangladesh, p 1-12 In Proceedings of the SAARC Workshop on Fish Seed Production, Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, 11-12 June.

Karim,M. 1986. Brackishwater shrimp culture demonstration in Bangladesh, BOBP/REP/ 5, FAO/SIDA,Madras, India. 44 p.

Mahmood, N. 1990. Potential and strategies for brackishwater aquaculture development in Bangladesh. Paper presented at the National Workshop on Aquaculture Strategies in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Mahmood, N. and M.R. Chowdhury. 1989. An overview of shrimp fishery of Bangladesh. Biological aspects. Paper presented at the Workshop on the Environmental Aspects of Agricultural Development and Surface Water Systems. Organized by the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies at the BARC Auditorium, Dhaka, 8-9 November, 1989. Manuscript.

Mazid, M.A. 1992.Aquaculture development in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Observer, Dhaka. 25 September,1992.

New, M.B. 1987. Feed and feeding of fish and shrimp. ADCP/REP/87/28. FAO. Rome, Italy. 275 p.

Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh. 1989. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Dhaka, Bangladesh 365 p.

Zaher,M., M.A. Mazid and S.Gheyasuddin. 1992. Progress Report on development of cost- effective feeds from indigenoud raw materials for fingerlings and adult carps. Manu- script. Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. 21 p.

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