Seasonal Availability and Price Margin of Freshwater Mud Eel (Monopterus cuchia) in Dinajpur

Abstract

This present study was conducted to create a better understanding about the seasonal availability, price margin of freshwater mud Eel, Monopterus cuchia in Dinajpur district under Rangpur Division of Bangladesh. Data was collected by questionnaire interviews with freshwater Eel traders as primary data and also collected from some web articles, published reports, papers etc. as secondary data. The study explored seasonal availability where October to December is the peak season for marketing of Kuchia. In this study the wholesaler engaged some labors or collectors to collect Kuchia in daily but they send it to the exporter two times in a week, after that the exporter shifted it to the exporting countries. In this transmission the average volume purchased by exporter is 620±60 kg from wholesaler and export it fully by buyer. The purchase price of Kuchia was 165±4 tk/kg and 204±3 tk/kg in case of wholesaler and exporter respectively and sell price of Kuchia for exporter was 315±4 tk/kg. The annual production of Kuchia in case of wholesaler and exporter were 3 to 5 mt/year and 7.5 to 12.5 mt/year respectively. As Kuchia is only available in few months of a year so the demand of Kuchia of exporters is not enough to full fill the need for sell. Despite of these obstacles, the Kuchia production has been increased compared to previous year with the help of Government and NGOs.