Eel-like Fish (Kunchia) from Jessore-Khulna Exported to China and Taiwan
Kunchia, an eel-like fish found in the natural canals and wetlands of the Jessore and Khulna regions in Bangladesh, is now being exported to countries like China and Taiwan. This lucrative trade has become a significant source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people in areas such as Abhaynagar, Monirampur, and Chowgacha in Jessore, as well as in the Khulna-Bagerhat region. Many individuals involved in catching and trading kunchia have successfully improved their economic standing and moved out of poverty. Exporters note that while kunchia is regularly shipped by air from Dhaka to China and Taiwan, commercial farming of the fish has not yet been established in Bangladesh, making the entire business dependent on natural sources. The kunchia market abroad is estimated to be worth hundreds of crores of Taka, highlighting its potential as an agricultural export product.
According to the Department of Fisheries, live kunchia exports reached 8,408 metric tons in the 2024-25 fiscal year, generating 398 crore Taka. In the preceding fiscal year (2023-24), exports amounted to 17,438 metric tons, valued at 993.71 crore Taka. The fiscal year 2022-23 saw exports of 12,108 metric tons, worth 620 crore Taka. An individual named Kumar Bairagi from Abhaynagar, who transitioned from catching kunchia to operating a business with a 10,000 Taka investment seven years ago, now runs a kunchia preservation facility at his home. He supplies kunchia to wholesale markets in Rupsa, Khulna, and Dhaka, and also processes it for consumption. Last fiscal year, Bairagi sold 10,000 kg of kunchia through 100 shipments, earning over 300,000 Taka in profit after expenses, which he used to purchase land and build a house. He collects live kunchia from around 30 villages with his son and stores it before sending it to wholesale markets. A local NGO, Nabolok Parishad, provided him with a preservation house, processing equipment, and training free of charge, funded by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF). This support significantly boosted Bairagi's business last fiscal year, with plans to assist others similarly.
Mrunal Kanti Dey, owner of New Mama Enterprise in Rupsa, Khulna, stated that kunchia arrives at his wholesale market from various areas including Abhaynagar, Monirampur, Terokhada, and Chitalmari. From there, it is sold to exporters in Dhaka for international shipment. Dey himself exported 150 metric tons last year, with his brother Prashanta Kumar Dey and Babul Sarkar being major exporters. The Jessore District Fisheries Officer, Monirul Mamun, acknowledged the international demand for kunchia as an unconventional agricultural product and mentioned initiatives to establish kunchia sales centers in fish markets under a project to facilitate easier trading for fishermen.
The burgeoning kunchia export trade from Bangladesh to East Asian markets presents a clear example of a niche agricultural product finding significant international demand. The reliance on natural sources for supply, however, introduces inherent sustainability risks and potential volatility in production. While the economic upliftment of local communities is a positive outcome, the absence of commercial aquaculture for kunchia suggests a missed opportunity for value chain development and greater control over supply and quality. Future growth may hinge on developing sustainable aquaculture practices to meet increasing demand, mitigate environmental pressures on natural habitats, and potentially add value through further processing, thereby capturing a larger share of the international market's potential hundreds of crores of Taka.
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