Heavy rainfall brings boon to lone croc farm
Fida-e-Tashfia
Although heavy rainfall in the preceding months has brought innumerable miseries for the overwhelming majority of the people, it has been a boon for the country's lone crocodile farm, with its inmates laying over 500 new eggs."Last year reproductive activities of the crocodiles were affected due to 50 percent less than usual rainfall, but this year the weather has favoured us and 14 of our crocodiles have laid eggs," said Mushtaq Ahmed, managing director and chief executive officer of Reptiles Farm Ltd (RFL). The private reptile reproduction enterprise was launched in 2004 with the aim of farming saltwater crocodiles commercially for export. Located in Hatiber village of Uthura union under Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh, the farm's 13.4 acre compound houses 68 crocodiles in 12 artificial ponds and two lagoons. The large reptiles, ranging from 7 feet to 12 feet in lengths, were brought in from Malaysia on December 22, 2004, at a total cost of around Tk 1.25 crore. Of the 75 crocodiles imported initially, one died in its cage during the airplane journey, and six others also perished since. Fourteen of the remaining crocodiles are males, while 54 are females. Each female can lay 30 to 40 eggs a year. The eggs will be hatched artificially, and the offspring will be sold on the international market when they become four years old. "Over the past year, we have built special incubation facilities and other infrastructure for hatching the eggs and raising the baby crocodiles," said Mushtaq Ahmed. RFL employed Geoff McClure, an Australian crocodile expert, to design the state of the art infrastructure for the company. He also helped the company to establish and follow Australian reptile farming protocols, which are among the most widely used and successful in the world. After a slow start, it seems the company's activities are finally gathering momentum. "We are expecting 30 to 40 percent yield of hatchlings from the 500 plus eggs we have gotten this year. Next year, we anticipate a substantially larger number of eggs, and a higher yield rate of about 60 to 70 percent," said Mesbahul Haque, chairman of the farm. While the project is Ahmed's brainchild, it was Haque's investment that helped turn the dream into a reality. The two entrepreneurs were aided in their maiden venture with technical assistance from South Asian Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) and with financial support from the equity and entrepreneur fund (EEF) unit of Bangladesh Bank. RFL also received assistance from Southeast Bank Ltd. "Bangladesh Bank holds 49 percent equity in the company, and their support has been invaluable, but we wish they were more active as partners," said Haque. "We also hope the government will formulate an exotic wildlife farming policy to facilitate exploration of this field, as the sector can make valuable contributions to our export basket," he added. Currently the farm employs 12 full time staff, who have been trained locally and internationally. As part of its human resource development programme, RFL encourages all its employees to pursue higher studies in local universities. The employees are bound to follow strict safety protocols, and have been instructed not to allow any visitor on the farm premises, for safety and commercial reasons. The calm and isolation has proven to be beneficial not only for the crocodiles, but also for local birds, since they can nest there without any disturbance. Flocks of birds have adopted the area as their home. RFL also planted over 5,000 trees of 40 different species of fruits, wood and medicinal plants, whose yields they plan to sell locally. Meat, skin and bones from the crocodiles will be exported to countries around the world. Charcoal made from crocodile bones is indispensable to the global perfume industry, while crocodile meat is widely consumed in Australia, Japan, Singapore, China and the Americas. Mesbahul Haque also informed The Daily Star that a kilogram of crocodile meat sells for eight dollars on international markets, while a single purse made of crocodile skin can sell for up to Tk 20,000. "Cost of rearing a crocodile for four years is projected at 20,000 taka, and export of each one is expected to bring in 40,000 taka to 50,000 taka," he said. The company expects to start commercial export in 2009. | 
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