Surplus fish production, shifting consumer food habits, and rising interest among young people in ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items have driven rapid expansion in the country’s market for fish-based processed products. Despite this growing demand, mucro-entrepreneurs continue to face major challenges due to the absence of clear policies on quality control, sanitation, marketing, certification, and simplified licensing procedures. Against this backdrop, a policy dialogue titled “Policy Gaps Related to Small- Scale Fish Processing and Marketing in the Domestic Market in Bangladesh” was held today in the capital’s Agargaon, organized by PKSF’s RMTP project.

Professor Dr. A.K.M. Nowsad Alam, Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University presented the keynote paper at the policy dialogue. He stated that the absence of clear guidelines for micro-entrepreneurs engaged in fish processing, street-food business expansion, and the marketing and safety of value-added products (ready-to-cook/eat) is hindering the growth of this promising sector. Speakers at the policy dialogue emphasized the need to formulate specific policies to promote the expansion of street-food enterprises and to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fish processing.

The event was chaired by PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader. In his speech, Md. Fazlul Kader said that, entrepreneurs across the country are producing and marketing various types of value-added products. He noted that PKSF has been consistently providing technical, technological, and financial support to entrepreneurs engaged in value-added production. Expressing optimism, he said that formulating policy guidelines for the marketing of processed fish products, the expansion of street food enterprises, and establishing standard operating procedures for fish product processing would serve as a significant milestone for entrepreneurs.

Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Dr. Md. Abdur Rauf, Acting Director General of the Department of Fisheries, said that the government will take initiatives to develop standards for fish-based products, including ready-to-cook/eat items produced by micro-entrepreneurs, as well as for their marketing in the street-food sector. 

The policy dialogue was moderated by Dr. Akond Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Managing Director of PKSF. Dr. S. M. Rezaul Karim. Director (In-Charge) of the Department of Fisheries also present in the dialogue. Officials from the office of Fish Inspection and quality Control, professors from fisheries departments of various universities, and researchers associated with the fisheries sector participated in the dialogue.