RANGPUR, Aug 10, 2022 (BSS) - Increasing production and consumption of small fishes are meeting nourishment of malnourished rural people, especially pregnant women and lactating mothers, across the district in recent years.
 
District Fisheries Officer Md. Badruzzaman Manik said cultivation of micro-nutrient enriched small fishes in smaller ponds, canals, wetlands and crop fields has already become a profitable venture for farmers to earn more alongside meeting nutrition.
 
"Following continuous increase in production of small fishes, rural people are achieving self-reliance alongside increasing consumption to overcome malnutrition and enhance immunity even during the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
 
Fisheries Survey Officer at District Fisheries Office Md. Rezaul Kabir said farmers produced 62,069 tonnes of fishes last year against only 17,685 tonnes of fishes 10 years ago in the district.
 
"Around 20 percent of the totally produced fishes in the district are local species of small and micronutrient rich fishes like “Mola" ,”Darkina” and "Dhela"," Rezaul said, adding that production of these fishes was increasing every year.
 
He also narrated an enormous prospect for further enhancing cultivation of micro-nutrient rich small fishes in the smaller ponds, canals, wetlands, floodplains, fish sanctuaries and crop fields in rural areas.
 
Talking to BSS, Associate Professor and Senior Consultant and Unit Head (Unit-IV) of the Department of Paediatrics of Rangpur Medical College and Hospital Dr. SM Nurun Nabi said regular intake of micro-nutrient rich fishes strengthens immune systems of babies and children helping normal growth.
 
"The smaller "Mola", "Darkina", and "Dhela" fishes have ample minerals and vitamins like iron and folic acid that help healthier growth of brain, nervous and immune systems and flourishing talent of babies and children," he said.
 
He suggested common people include small fishes on their daily food menus as deficiency of these micro-nutrient elements, minerals and vitamins could hinder normal growth of babies and children.
 
Former Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Shahdat Hossain said optimal intake of small fishes like "Mola", "Darkina", and "Dhela" could prevent undernourishment of women, including pregnant women and lactating mothers, and children.
 
"As a result of continuous increase in consumption of small fishes, malnutrition of pregnant women and lactating mothers as well as rate of maternal, neonatal and infant deaths and permanent blindness reduced significantly," he said.
 
He said optimum intake of small fishes and vegetables could meet nutritional demand of pregnant women also ensuring safe pregnancy for giving birth to healthier babies and increasing milk of lactating mothers.
 
Talking to BSS, Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam said intake of small fishes and vegetables could efficiently prevent nutritional deficiency of pregnant women, lactating mothers, babies, children and people of all ages.
 
"Normal growth of brain, different organs and flourishing talent of babies and children may be hindered due to malnutrition of pregnant women and lactating mothers sometimes causing various diseases or leading to severe consequences," he added.
 
Optimal intake of micro-nutrient enriched small fishes on a regular basis could meet nourishment reducing maternal, neonatal and infant deaths as well as permanent blindness and other diseases.
 
"Consumption of small fishes and vegetables meets nourishment of pregnant women, lactating mothers, babies and children and helps building a healthier nation on the way to achieve the sustainable development goals," he added.