Operating a fleet of mobile stalls across the country, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry raked in Tk 47 crore on Thursday selling fish and poultry products purchased  from  farmers and fish cultures who couldn’t bring their goods to market amid the lockdown imposed in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The items sold, as listed in a ministry handout, included 26.4 lakh (2.64 million) litres of milk, over 1 crore (10 million) eggs, nearly 15 lakh (1.5 million) chicken, some 36,777 ducks and pigeons, as well as other animal-based food items. These accounted for the bulk of the revenue, around Tk 40 crore.

They also sold a wide variety of fish including rui, katla, and silver carp, with a combined weight of almost 4 lakh (400,000) kilograms, for approximately Tk 7.24 crore. 

The ministry noted its pleasure at the enthusiastic response witnessed among the general public for their initiative.

According to the ministry, they took the initiative for selling milk, egg, fish and poultry goods produced by marginal farmers and entrepreneurs in a bid to help them amid the ongoing shutdown.

The ministry issued a directive to all its officials at district and upazila level earlier on April 22, informing them of the program and asking them to work accordingly by purchasing the items judiciously.