Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Socio-economic Status of the Hilsa (tenualosa Ilisha) Fishermen of Padma River, Bangladesh

M.D. Hasan Faruque
Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Dewan Ali Ahsan
Department of Fisheries, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present investigation was carried out to assess the livelihood status of the Hilsa fishermen of the River Padma, Bangladesh during April 2012 to March 2013. Data were collected by well-structured questionnaire. Most of the fishers were belonged to the age category of 31 to 40 years represented by 56.52- 75.00% professional, 20.83-43.48% occasional and 0.00-7.69% subsistence fishermen. About 67.54% of the Hilsa fishermen of Charghat upazila were only could sign their name while 16.62%, 14.05% and 1.57% were illiterate, primary and secondary level of education respectively. In Godagari about 17.79% of fishermen had no education. Catching of Hilsa fish in Padma River was dominated by Muslim fishermen except Horisonkorpur (majorities were Hindus). It was ranged from 45.83 to 78.57% and on an average 57.14 to 78.26 % of the fishermen had four to six family members followed by 21.74 to 33.33% had one to three family members and 4.17 to 14.29% had seven to nine family members. Average annual incomes of most of them were ranged from taka 30,000 to 39,999 (85.13%) and 1.79% had above taka 50,000. About 68.14% fishermen households were dependent on village doctor and 24.05% and 7.81% received health service from the Upazila health complex and Kabiraj respectively. Most of the fishemen’s housing conditions were Katcha and 90% fishermen household under Godagari upazila used the river water for drinking and other purposes. The main problems were identified as extortion by local extortionist; other problems such as inadequate credit facilities, lack of appropriate preservation facilities and frequent conflict between professional and non-professional fishermen and between Muslims and Hindus fishermen were prominent.

Keywords: Livelihood, Questionnaire, Hilsa Fishermen, Padma River, Constrains

Location: Rajshahi district.

Start Date: 00-04-2012

End Date: 00-03-2013

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Hilsa

Objectives:

To assess the livelihood status of the Hilsa fishermen of the River Padma

Methodology:

Study Area and Study Period: This study was conducted in different villages of Godagari and Charghat upazila under Rajshahi district along the River Padma. Four villages, two in each upazila namely Kathalbaria and Horisonkorpur under Godagari upazila, Yousufpur and Chock Muktapur under Charghat upazila of Rajshahi district were selected for the analysis of socio-economic condition of the Hilsa fishermen, because most of the fishermen of the selected villages were professional and they engages in fishing all the year round. The survey was carried out from April 2012 to March 2013. Data Collection Technique: The study was based on collection of primary data. Before collecting the primary data, a draft questionnaire was developed which was pre-tested with a few fishermen of study areas. In the pre-testing, much attention was given to any new draft questionnaire in order to reach theobjective of the study. According to the experience gained in pre-testing, the final questionnaire was improved, rearranged and modified. The final questionnaire included the questions on the socioeconomic condition, age distribution, family size, literacy status, occupation, source of earning, income level, housing condition, health facilities and daily catch of Hilsa etc. Primary data were also collected through Household survey using multiple methodological Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Crosscheck Interviews (CI) with key informants. FGD sessions were held at the selected village, where fishermen were spontaneous. Data Analysis: The data obtained in the questionnaires was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis in form of frequencies and percentages by using SPSS V 20.0 developed by SPSS (mac) and MS Office 2010 developed by Microsoft Corporation.

Source of Information: World Applied Sciences Journal 32 (5): 857-864, 2014 ISSN 1818-4952

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

About 67.54% of the Hilsa fishermen of Charghat upazila were only could sign their name while 16.62%, 14.05% and 1.57% were illiterate, primary and secondary level of education respectively. In Godagari about 17.79% of fishermen had no education. Catching of Hilsa fish in Padma River was dominated by Muslim fishermen except Horisonkorpur (majorities were Hindus). It was ranged from 45.83 to 78.57% and on an average 57.14 to 78.26 % of the fishermen had four to six family members followed by 21.74 to 33.33% had one to three family members and 4.17 to 14.29% had seven to nine family members. Average annual incomes of most of them were ranged from taka 30,000 to 39,999 (85.13%) and 1.79% had above taka 50,000. About 68.14% fishermen households were dependent on village doctor and 24.05% and 7.81% received health service from the Upazila health complex and Kabiraj respectively. Most of the fishemen’s housing conditions were Katcha and 90% fishermen household under Godagari upazila used the river water for drinking and other purposes. The main problems were identified as extortion by local extortionist; other problems such as inadequate credit facilities, lack of appropriate preservation facilities and frequent conflict between professional and non-professional fishermen and between Muslims and Hindus fishermen were prominent.

Knowledge Management: Journal