FISHBYTE, in association with Shushilan, successfully organized two impactful shrimp farming training programs on September 24–25, 2025, at the Sarder Abu Hosen College, Paikgacha, Khulna. The programs were designed to build the practical skills of smallholder farmers and empower women through hands-on shrimp farming training.

On the first day, 20 beneficiaries (10 women and 10 men) and their spouses participated in the “Pilot Capacity Building & Practical Field-Based Engagement and Demonstration for Farmers.” On the second day, 10 women and their spouses took part in the “Nursery Pond Knowledge Building for Women & Practical Demonstration.”

The sessions blended classroom learning with extensive field-based demonstrations, covering pond preparation, fry selection, biosecurity, feed and nutrition, disease management, water quality monitoring (pH, alkalinity, salinity), and economic accounting. Farmers practiced these techniques directly in the field, gaining first-hand experience.

Participants expressed genuine enthusiasm, many stating that it was the first time they had received such detailed, practical training. “If we had learned this way before, our farms could have already improved significantly,” one farmer shared during the closing session.

The training was led by Mr. Taslim Mahmood, FISHBYTE Advisor and internationally recognized Bangladeshi shrimp consultant with decades of experience across Asia and the Middle East. His practical demonstrations were complemented by the presence of FISHBYTE’s founder, Zubair Khan, Seafood Network Bangladesh’s Women Empowerment Coordinator, Rezwana Shafique, and senior representatives from Shushilan including Program Director, Satchinando Biswas, and Program Implementation Coordinator, Rajib Gosh. On the second day, the Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer joined the program and commended the effort.

These activities are part of Activity #6 of the Aquaculture Network of Bangladesh (ANB), a multi-stakeholder platform that unites NGOs, research institutions, universities, and private enterprises to address critical challenges in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector. ANB was launched in February 2025 through its inaugural workshop in Dhaka with the participation of both local and international partners. Under Activity #6, support is being provided by Khulna University, international partners Evolved Research & Consulting (ERC, UK), MacAlister Elliott & Partners (MEP, UK), and the UK Government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

Through these trainings, FISHBYTE and its partners emphasized not only sustainable, nature-based shrimp farming practices but also the empowerment of women in aquaculture as entrepreneurs and decision-makers within their households and communities.

With strong collaboration across partners, the Paikgacha training programs mark a significant step toward building resilient livelihoods and advancing sustainable aquaculture in coastal Bangladesh.