To increase the media’s sensitivity to aquatic food systems in Northwest Bangladesh as well as to reach information to the aquatic foods sector an interactive media session on aquatic food systems reporting was held.
WorldFish in Bangladesh with the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) jointly organized the session at a city’s conference hall in the capital on Sunday. A good number of journalists both from print and electronic media along with WorldFish officials participated in the session.
The session discussed various issues including increasing Income from aquaculture, diversifying diets and empowering women project in Bangladesh, WorldFish’s work in Bangladesh as well as aquatic food systems in general.
WorldFish project manager Alvaro Paz Mendez underlined the importance of journalists in engaging with the people and delivering accurate information to the public.
He said, “WorldFish wishes to support journalists in producing stories and sharing information to the public by providing them with adequate knowledge and assistance”.
Mendez introduced WorldFish’s website to members of the press where technical information and guidance can be easily obtained.
He encouraged the journalists to share the knowledge they have learned from the website as well as from attending press briefings and public sessions.
BAJF Research Secretary Sushanta Sinha said, “It is important that farmers get the right information at the right time to achieve the most from their venture. Getting timely access to the success stories of research organizations such as WorldFish would greatly benefit the farmers in Bangladesh. We will do our part to help disseminate the information as widely as possible so as many farmers will benefit from it”.
BAJF President Iftekhar Mahmud said more sessions would help to reach more stories to the farmers' doorstep which can lead them to a successful path.
Among the topics covered were aspects of private sector engagement activities, key partnerships, ways of empowering women in aquatic food systems, steps being taken to improve nutritional status, the impact of consuming indigenous species of small fish on household nutrition, the quality of seeds for sustainable aquaculture and initiatives to improve national policies.
