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Villagers’ Perception of Arsenic Issues on Their Livelihood Assets

M.Z. Rahman
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh

M. Tani
Assoc. Professor
Kyushu University, Japan

M. Jahiruddin
Professors
Dept. of Soil Science, BAU, Mymensingh

A.Z.M. Moslehuddin
Professors
Dept. of Soil Science, BAU, Mymensingh

K. Kurosawa
Assoc. Professor
Kyushu University, Japan

K. Egashira
Professor Emeritus
Kyushu University, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was carried out to determine the extent of villagers’ perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets and to explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the villagers and their perception. Azampur village of Shimulia union in Jhikargachha Upazila under Jessore district was the locale of the research. Arsenocosis affected and un-affected villagers were considered as the population of the study. Total 35 persons were arsenic affected in the village and they were all under sample along with other 35 unaffected villagers who were selected randomly. So the sample size became 70. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents in August 2007. To measure the extent of villagers’ perception of arsenic issues, five-point Likert type scale was used. Correlation Coefficient (r) was computed to explore the relationship of the selected characteristics of villagers with their extent of perception of arsenic issues. About three fourths (74 percent) of the respondents had moderately favorable perception and the rest 26 percent had unfavorable perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets. Out of five capitals of livelihood assets, the highest Perception Index (55 percent) was associated with social capital and the lowest was for financial capital (24 percent). Three characteristics of the villagers viz. level of education, cosmopoliteness and exposure to arsenic information showed significant positive relationships with their perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets. ‘Lack of training on arsenic issues’, ‘lack of concept about effect of arsenic problem’ and ‘lack of initiatives from donor agencies’ were the major blocks to participate in arsenic mitigation initiatives as identified by the villagers.

Keywords: Perception, Arsenic, Livelihoods, Bangladesh

Location: Jhikargachha Upazila under Jessore distric

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

a) To determine the villagers’ perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets. The assets were: (i) social capital, (ii) human capital, (iii) natural capital, (iv) financial capital and (v) physical capital b) To explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of the villagers and their perception of arsenic issues on livelihood assets. The selected characteristics were: age, level of education, family size, farm size, annual income, family cooperation, cosmopoliteness and exposure to arsenic information. c) To identify the problems confronted by the villagers to participate in arsenic mitigation initiatives.

Methodology:

The locale of the study was Azampur village of Shimulia union in Jhikargachha Upazila under Jessore district. Arsenocosis affected and un-affected people of Azampur were considered as the population of the study. Total 35 villagers were arsenic affected and were considered as sample along with other 35 un-affected villagers selected randomly from other 1318 villagers. So the total sample stood to 70. An interview schedule was developed to collect necessary data from the villagers to determine their extent of perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets. Data were collected during 04 to 28 August, 2007. In this study 8 characteristics were selected as independent variables viz. age, level of education, family size, farm size, annual household income, family cooperation, cosmopoliteness and exposure to arsenic information. Villagers’ perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets (i.e. the dependent variable) was measured through the following livelihood assets: Social capital, Human capital, Natural capital, Financial capital and Physical capital. All these capitals were comprised of some specific and relevant issues. For the measurement of all the aspects, five-point Likert-type scale was used. Each statement was comprised of possible reply of “strongly agree’, ‘agree’, ‘undecided’, ‘disagree’ and ‘strongly disagree’ with corresponding scores of 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0. Perception Index (PI) has been used to determine the extent of perception of arsenic issues on their livelihood assets. It was defined as the ratio of ‘actual perception’ to ‘possible perception’ in any issue expressed as percentage.In the present study, extent of perception of the villagers’ on arsenic issues has been computed according to the formula of Perception Index (PI). Thus, Perception Index (PI) could vary from 0 to 100 percent, ‘0’ indicating ‘unfavorable’ Perception and ‘100’ indicating ‘favorable’ perception in different livelihood assets. By adding the assigned scores of five aspects of the respondents together, the perception score of a farmer was obtained. This perception score has been used for further statistical analysis with the values of independent variables. Correlation coefficient (r) was computed to find out the relationships between dependent and independent variables. Constraints faced by the respondents in participating arsenic mitigation committee were measured through preparation of Scored Causal Diagrams (SCDs). Problems in participating arsenic mitigation initiatives were discussed with the respondents, assuming the ‘end problem’ being ‘low participation in arsenic mitigation initiatives’. Firstly the problems mentioned by the respondents were listed, secondly diagrams were drawn by them on a large paper on the ground to show causal relationships between the problems, and finally scoring of selected problems was performed again by them. In this way SCDs was prepared by the group of respondents.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education ISSN 1011-3916 Volume 19, No. 1&2, 2007:71-79

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Most of the villagers had moderately favorable perception of arsenic problem in their livelihood assets. The average Perception Index (PI) of the villagers was low (40). Among five aspects of livelihood assets, financial capital was responsible for the less favorable perception. Thus, there is ample scope to form favorable perception of villagers towards arsenic problems on their livelihoods. This can be achieved by active campaign and spot training of Ministry of Environment of the government. Most of the villagers were illiterate or educated up to primary level. Further, education had significant and positive relationship with their extent of perception of arsenic issues. Hence, increased educational level might be helpful for the formation of better perception of arsenic issues on livelihood assets. Moreover, significant positive correlation of villagers’ cosmopolitness and exposure to arsenic information with their perception also endorse assumption. Yet it might be suggested that there is further scope to clarify their perception of arsenic issues by increasing their further exposure to arsenic information. The majority of the problems were created for the lack of training about arsenic issues and lack of initiatives by the donor agencies. As those problems more or less fell under jurisdiction of different GOs and NGOs, these organizations can help the villagers participate functionally in arsenic mitigation initiatives.

Knowledge Management: Journal