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THE fresh water shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is known as Galda in Bangladesh. For its big size, it is widely known as freshwater giant shrimp or fresh water lobster. Currently, Galda represents an estimated 20 percent in the total (US$300 million) export earning from all species of shrimp export from Bangladesh.
Galda farming in Bangladesh has a number of socio-economic advantages over the marine black tiger shrimp or Bagda shrimp farming. Unlike the Bagda ponds which are normally large, averaging above 20 - 25 acres, Galda farms are small averaging less than an acre. In many cases, the Bagda farms are operated by local or non-resident lease holders rather than the land owners. Galda farms are normally controlled and operated by the land owners themselves without any interference from the outsiders. Galda farming can be, and in most cases it is, well-integrated with paddy production, horticulture and aquaculture of selected species of food fish.
In fact, paddy production in Galda ghers (farms) is usually higher than in open beels. Thus, culture of Galda shrimp has apparently no conflict with agriculture. Aquaculture and agriculture are in fact mutually supportive. Any feed residues and shrimp metabolites that remain in the field act as fertiliser to the benefit of paddy or other agricultural crops. Paddy and other plants growing in the field after the shrimp harvest utilise and absorb any excessive organic loads that may affect shrimp life. Located away from the sea, the Galda farms are not usually vulnerable to cyclones or tidal bores which regularly cause damages to the coastal marine shrimp farm infrastructures and the valuable shrimp crops. Besides, Galda shrimp is not susceptible to the prevailing white spot virus disease that causes huge economic losses to the marine shrimp and its producers every year. Although a freshwater species, Galda shrimp can survive and grow very well in brackish water of salinity up to 8 ppt.
With all of these advantages, the opportunity for horizontal and vertical expansion of Galda farming is great. An estimated area of 30,000 hectares is already under Galda farming, mostly in Bagerhat, Khulna, Pirojpur, Narail, Jessore Gopalganj and Noakhali. The low lying areas in Mymensingh and other districts have also good potentials. The ideal areas are, however, those having the following qualities: Suitable fresh or slightly brackish water, preferably flowing surface water to fill in the ponds at any time of the year; sufficiently clayey soil with good water retention capacity; with shrimp fry sources are not very far; good quality ice available nearby to preserve the shrimp immediately after harvest; suitable shrimp marketing link with easy access and shrimp processing plants located not very far.
Substantial income increase from the constantly shrinking agricultural lands is essential to reduce rural poverty. The people in the low-lying mono-crop areas in Bangladesh are traditionally poor. Poor as they are, they suffer from malnutrition, ill health, low resistance to diseases and physical and mental debilities. As a result, their work output is also poor both in quantity and in quality. All these further compound their poverty and miseries. In recent years, farmers in such lands in some districts have learnt to harness economic gains from Galda shrimp farming in the wet months alternating their work with boro paddy cultivation during the dry months. With expansion of their family sizes farmers are desperately looking for new and more effective Galda production technologies to further increase income from their limited land.
Is it possible to raise two full Galda crops a year? Yes, it should be possible provided appropriate juveniles and water supply are available in time. Galda farming is so far limited only to the second half of the year (July - November), because of availability of fry and water at that time. The farmers are not able to utilise the first half of the growth period because of two main limitations: nonavailability of suitable shrimp juveniles and of water supply in the farming areas. Most of the Galda farms are totally monsoon dependent; the farms are not connected with any year-round water supply network. Availability of juveniles and supply of water in February could have enabled farmers to raise a full and early crop of shrimp by end May or early June. The land could then be used for the usual Galda farming from June to November. Thus, two good shrimp crops could have substantially increased farmers' income. This could also promote multifarious cottage industries and create new employment in the rural communities, concomitantly increasing export earning for the country.
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