Supply chain and distribution channels of mud crab (Scylla serrata) in Bangladesh

Abstract

During the present study, the marketing and distribution channels of live crab (Scylla serrata) at Paikgachha upazila under Khulna district of Bangladesh were analyzed. Mud crab production is considered as a profitable and feasible business by most of the marketing operators. The supply chain of mud crab primarily focuses on the foreign export earning of Bangladesh. The main contributors involved in the live crab supply chain are the crab collectors, fatteners, depot owner, suppliers and exporters. It was found that more than 50 percent of exportable crabs comes from natural sources with rest being from the fattening sector. For the male crab, five grades were observed namely extra-extra-large (XXL), extralarge (XL), large (L), Medium (M) and small (SM), whereas three grades were observed for female crab namely F1, F2 and F3 both in descending order of live gross weight. Price of female crab was higher than that of the male crab. Considering the total export earnings from mud crabs, this sector has a bright future and for achieving this, development and support should come from government and different nongovernment organizations to improve this sustainable sector in Bangladesh. Based on the findings of the study some recommendations were made for the development of this business ensuring more contribution to Bangladesh economy.