Toxin-Free Fish Production: Black Soldier Fly Farming Opens New Avenues

A youth with physical disabilities from Lohachura village in Raninagar Upazila, Naogaon, has set a remarkable example by commercially cultivating Black Soldier Flies (BSF) as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fish feed. Md. Nahid Hossain, now locally celebrated as ‘Black Soldier Nahid,’ has generated widespread enthusiasm among local fish farmers and unemployed youth. His initiative offers a sustainable solution for chemical-free aquaculture while promoting environmental conservation. Mr. Nahid established his farm with support from the local development organization Mowsumi, alongside technical assistance provided under PKSF’s SMART Project.

The journey began in October 2025, when Mr. Nahid launched his small-scale enterprise by securing a BDT 100,000 loan from Mowsumi under the ‘Smart Pisciculture Sub-project.’ Demonstrating early success, he expanded operations in February 2026 after receiving an additional BDT 50,000 grant from the SMART project. Today, his venture has grown sufficiently to provide gainful employment opportunities for two local workers.

The cultivation process relies on Black Soldier Flies as natural consumers of organic refuse and perishable waste gathered from households, hotels, and local markets. The flies mate in well-ventilated chambers and lay eggs on wooden surfaces, which hatch into larvae that are separated and reared across five stages within 15 to 16 days without requiring extra feed. This natural cycle absorbs harmful gases, keeps the surrounding environment pollution-free, and converts waste into high-protein feed.

From a financial perspective, producing one kilogram of BSF larvae costs approximately BDT 65, whereas the market price ranges from BDT 250 to BDT 270 per kilogram. Mr. Nahid’s farm currently yields 400 to 500 kilograms of larvae per month, meeting the high-protein nutritional demands of the fish in his own ponds. By selling the surplus yield, he earns a net monthly income of BDT 20,000 to BDT 25,000.

Highlighting the accomplishment, Abdur Rauf Pavel, MIS and Documentation Officer of the Mowsumi Smart-Pisciculture Sub-project, remarked, ‘ Mr. Nahid is a unique example for our project. Despite his physical disability, he has successfully implemented this eco-friendly and sustainable technology.’ Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Palash Chandra Deb Nath added, ‘Black Soldier Flies are gaining global popularity as an alternative source of protein in aquaculture. In its dried form, this larva can yield up to 50 percent high animal protein.’