Crocodile Farming in Bangladesh

A man who had been in quest of a profession with a difference finally had his passion landed in a commercial crocodile farm at Bhaluka, the first in the South Asian region.

A university graduate, Mushtaq Ahmed, had browsed different professions, including one in UNHCR, but could not settle down anywhere.

He along with Mesbahul Huq, a pharmacist, then set up the croc farm, the Reptiles Farm Ltd (RFL), at Hatiber village under Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh district on a land of 15 acres.

While the project is Mushtaq'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 got assistance from Southeast Bank Ltd.

The duo brought 75 reptiles ranging from seven to 12 feet from Malaysia for commercial breeding of crocs for Taka 1.25 crore. Of which, eight died on the way to the farm established in October 2004.

Talking to BSS at their Lalmatia head office in the city on Friday, Mushtaq, Managing Director and CEO of RFL, said, "We have set up the farm with an aim to export over 5,000 pieces of crocodile skin annually and create a base for earning up to US$ 5 million by 2015."

Different countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have shown keen interest in importing crocs from their farm, he said, adding the farm is likely to export skins, meat and bones of 140 saltwater crocs next year.

"We are very much hopeful of exporting skins, meat and bones of at least 140 crocs from Bangladesh by December, 2009," Mushtaq said and hoped that the number would go up to 500 by the next two to three years.

He said there is a huge demand for croc skins, meat and bones in Europe, America and other developed countries like Australia, Japan, Singapore and China, and charcoal made from crocodile bones is indispensable for the global perfume industry. To meet this demand, more croc farms could be set up in Bangladesh, Mushtaq opined. But, he said, there should be a policy on launching this unconventional business, otherwise its future could be disastrous like our shrimp industry.

"We hope the government will formulate an exotic wildlife farming policy to facilitate exploration of this field, as the sector can make valuable contribution to our export basket," he added.

Mushtaq said the international price of per kilo croc meat is about US$ 200, while a baby crocodile is expected to fetch US$ 700 to 1,200.

He said the number of crocodiles at their farm now stood at 447 from 68 through rearing in the last four years.

There are now 32 ponds at the farm with 447 saltwater crocodiles (scientific name: crocodylus porosus). Of them, 380 are small and 67 big in size and the length of the biggest crocodiles is 14 feet and the smallest is eight feet, he added.

"In the last four years, we have built special incubation facilities and other infrastructure for hatching eggs and raising baby crocodiles," Mushtaq said.

Currently, he said, the farm employs 10 full-time staff, who have been trained locally and internationally. As part of its human resources development programme, RFL encourages all its employees to pursue higher studies at local universities, he said.

RFL also hired Geoff McClure, an Australian crocodile expert, in designing state-of-the-art infrastructure for the company. Besides designing, he is helping the company replicate Australian reptile farming protocols, Mushtaq said.

He said 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 quiet atmosphere of the farm has proven to be beneficial not only for crocodiles, but also for local birds, since they can roost there undisturbed, Mushtaq said.

He said RFL also planted over 5,000 trees of 40 species of fruit, wood and medicinal plants at the farm.

Mushtaq said their farm follows the Australian standard and fulfills the criteria of IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in breeding crocs.