6 BOBP-FARM

(65) It has been suggested that FRI should take over the shrimp demonstration farm of the FAO - Bay of Bengal Project (BOBP) at Satkhira for development of BFRS. That farm is situated, however, rather outside of the main shrimp production area and can not be considered representative for the brackishwater regio. Moreover, siltation and salinity problems influence its proper functioning already and it is doubtful whether the farm can be used for shrimp production much longer. And, last but not least, the available area is far too small for the research programme foreseen for BFRS.

(66) Since the farm premises are becoming available, however, it seems worthwile to make use of them as long as BFRS has its own buildings and ponds under construction. It is suggested that part of the BFRS officers may be already employed and temporary deputated to the BOBP-farm; this concerns the following officers:

• the CSO, who can supervise the implementation of BFRS from the BOBP farm (as a project director); in this way the future responsible officer will be completely informed about all aspects of the Station at the moment its functioning starts. He will simultaneously get the opportunity to get acquainted with shrimp culture operations and problems, and he can supervise the research mentioned below;
• SO's and assistants to start up that aspects of the field work that have high priority and that are not very much dependent on specialized physical facilities. Namely elements of the projects mentioned under sections 4.2.2, 4.2.5, 4.2.7, 4.3.8 and 4.3.9 (survey work) could be started.