ndigenous Mola fish is being produced in a beel (swamp) under Sadar upazila of the district through active participation of farmers.
Sources concerned said an initiative was also taken to farm the fish in different beels to enhance its production in the years of ahead.
The objective of the Mola fish production is to meet the growing demand of protein for all particularly the children in a bid to help build a healthier nation.
To change the socio-economic condition of the poor and marginal farmers living surrounding the beel sthrough involving themselves in income generating activities is another objective of the fish production, the sources said.
World Fish Bangladesh, a reputed organization, has been implementing the programme in the district since 2012 under the project Flood Plain Fisheries and Aquaculture in Bangladesh and India RIU PN 35′ in cooperation with Consultative Group of International Agriculture Research.
Under this project, 92-kg Mola fish fries were released into Bhelakuba Beel at Kisamatfolia under Gidari union of Sadar upazila in the month of September in 2012, said Shariful Islam Bablu, a field staff of the organisation.
After three months, as many as 1,385-kg of Mola fish were harvested. Per kg of Mola Fish is being sold at TK250 in local markets, he also said.
Besides, over 100-kg of Mola fish has been conserved in the beel for next year production, said Lutfar Rahman, a beneficiary farmer of the project.
Terming Mola fish as a nutrition rich and delicious one, Senior Sadar Upazila fisheries Officer Abdul Latif said the production rate of Mola fish is very high as the fish breed four times in a year.
Bibhu Bhusan Majumder, research associate of the project, said as the farmers were benefited economically through farming Mola fish inthe beel in 2012-2013 year; a plan was also taken to release 100-kg of Molafishinto Batikamari Beel under Badiakhali union of the upazila this month.
In phases, more beels of the district would be brought under Mola fish production within few years to increase the native small fishes in the flood plain of the district, he also said.
District Fisheries Officer SM Rashedul Haque said Mola fish production in beels of the district by the organisation was very praiseworthy as it plays a significant role in meeting up the nutrition demand of the people.