Our Correspondent

CHITTAGONG, June 22: Bangladesh can earn a hefty amount of foreign currency through commercial cultivation of marine vegetables and marine vegetables grow in the sea and in less saline water.

The speakers at a seminar on "Seaweed of Bangladesh" said this in the port city recently.

Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries of Chittagong University (CU) and the Ministry of Science and Information Technology jointly organised the seminar at a city hotel.

The speakers said that marine vegetables of over 150 spices already exists on coastal areas including St Martin and Parabon areas and through proper utilisation of the resources it is possible to earn foreign currency.

The speaker also urged farmers to cultivate marine vegetables on a commercial basis.

The products, if recognised as commercial and exportable items, the industry can emerge as a new sector in the country, they added.

Cultivation of marine vegetables would be helpful for poverty reduction and preserving ecological balance.

They called for imparting adequate training to the cultivators and stakeholders.

Chittagong University Vice-chancellor Abu Yusuf Alam was the chief guest while CU Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries Director Md Rashedun Nabi presided over the seminar. CU Teachers Association President Md Kamal Hossain and eminent aquaculturist Md Jafar attended the seminar as special guests.