Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 12, 2026 (BSS) - Over 100 families in Baduria village under Paikgachha upazila of Khulna have become financially self-reliant through commercial cultivation of snakehead fish (locally known as Shol), turning the once ordinary village into a flourishing aquaculture hub.

Situated in Ward No. 8 of Chandkhali Union, the village is now home to around 300 ponds used for snakehead fish farming. The expanding industry has generated employment for a large number of residents, with people of different age groups engaged in fish cultivation, feed preparation, pond maintenance and marketing.

To ensure a safe farming environment, farmers have secured their ponds with bamboo fencing and protective nets to prevent snakes and other harmful animals from entering.

Local residents said many villagers were once unemployed or relied solely on conventional agriculture for their livelihoods. The rapid success of commercial snakehead farming has significantly increased household incomes and encouraged more people to invest in the business.

Most ponds cover five to six decimals of land and are stocked with 2,000 to 2,500 fingerlings. 

Women have also become an integral part of the industry, preparing fish feed every morning and contributing to daily farming activities.

Farmer Md Hasan said he stocked 2,600 fingerlings in a six-decimal pond. Within seven to eight months, the fish reached an average weight of 700 grams to one kilogram. He said production costs range between Tk 3.5 lakh and Tk 4 lakh annually, while sales generate Tk 7 lakh to Tk 8 lakh, yielding a healthy profit.

Another farmer, Md Ujjal Gazi, said he earned about Tk 9.1 lakh from selling snakehead fish produced in two ponds covering 15 decimals last year after spending around Tk 4 lakh. This year, he has stocked about 4,500 fingerlings and expects sales of Tk 12 lakh to Tk 13 lakh.

According to local farmers, snakehead fish produced in Baduria are now supplied to markets across the country. The fish currently sell for Tk 400 to Tk 600 per kilogram, making the venture increasingly profitable.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Saikat Mallik praised the villagers' efforts, saying the Department of Fisheries would provide training, technical assistance and advisory support to help expand the sector further.

He said fisheries officials would soon visit the village to assess its production capacity and explore opportunities for future expansion.