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Livelihood Analysis of the Char Dwellers Using Capital Asset Framework

M. A. Rahman*
Department of Geomatics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

M. A. Siddik
Department of Land Record and Transformation, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study has been carried out in a Riverine Island of the Ganges River in Chapai Nawabganj District of Bangladesh to evaluate the livelihood status and the association between different livelihood capitals and well-being status. Both qualitative and quantitative data are collected through household questionnaire survey and field observation. Most of the surveyed households are found either poor or hard core poor. This study identified five capitals of livelihood i.e. human, social, natural, financial and physical capitals with specific indicators. Family size and education indicators of human capital, organizational attachment of social capital, total and operational land of natural capital, value of livestock, size of savings and loan of financial capital and mobile phone of physical capital are statistically significant with the well-being status. This means higher value of indicators indicate higher the well-being status. Hence, this study assumes that most of the char dwellers are poor or hard core poor because their livelihood capitals and assets are not in satisfactory level. This study suggests providing necessary institutional and organizational supports for strengthening the livelihood of char dwellers.

Keywords: Food security, Livelihood capital, Riverine island, Well-being status

Location: Shibganj Upazila (sub district) of Chapai Nawabganj District

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Income generation

Objectives:

This study aims to assess the existing livelihood status of the char dwellers of Chapai Nawabganj District and examine the association between well-being status and different capitals of livelihood.

Methodology:

Study area Char Laxmipur of the Ganges River was purposively selected as the study area which comprises of 4, 5 and 6 number wards of Panka Union (lowest administrative unit of local government) under Shibganj Upazila (sub district) of Chapai Nawabganj District. There are total 296 households in this char area (UISC, 2017). Data collection and process Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Sample survey method was used to collect the primary data from the respective households. The main data collection techniques were direct observation and semi-structured questionnaire survey. Direct observation was done through transect walks. During transect walks, the researchers kept the objectives of the livelihoods study in mind. The dwellers took the opportunity to discuss their commonly felt problems and sought solutions with the researchers. The observation results were used in order to crosschecking the respondents’ answers during questionnaire survey. After completing direct observation, the semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted with household representatives (both male and female) by means of face-to-face conversation. Due to time constraints and financial limitation, a total of 108 were chosen for conducting questionnaire survey from total 296 households by 93% confidence level where the error was 7 % with a 50 % response distribution. After that, a simple random sampling method was employed in order to carry out the survey in these sampled households. After inputting data into SPSS platform, if there were any items left out or any contradictory answers were found, then the respondents were revisited to obtain the missing and/or correct information. Secondary data is collected from published and unpublished documents. All the quantitative data was processed and analysed using SPSS Windows 20.0. Data was mostly presented in tabular and graphical form. The association between well-being status and livelihood was assessed using Gamma and Lambda analysis. Definition of well-being status The households were categorized as better off, middle class, poor and hard core poor (Table 1) based on daily income and food security (World Bank, 2004). Capital asset framework (CAF) The level of economic status is a key indicator to assess the livelihood. Only a few successes have been achieved in eradicating rural poverty, although new ideas are developing and new approaches to rural development are being deliberated (Carney, 1998). Department for International Development (DFID) has been implemented a sustainable livelihood framework for reducing poverty since 1997. It is a crucial achieving the outcome of livelihood status using different assets and strategies. The framework is widely used in contemporary studies which not only for poverty eradication but also for socio-economic development and sustainable management of natural resources. Based on the assets (human, social, natural, financial and physical capital) included in the framework, a (CAF) is formulated for analysing the livelihood status of char dwellers in the study area.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 11(1&2):27–36, 2018 ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study has been undertaken to assess the existing livelihood status of the char dwellers of the study area and analyse the relationship between their well-being status and different livelihood capitals. The result clearly shows that most of the char dwellers are either poor or hard core poor and they are functionally landless. Further, the study identified five capitals of livelihood to know their association with well-being status. They are (a) human capital include family size, earning source, education and number of earning person, (b) social capital comprises households with no conflict, conflict resolving attitude, collective effort and local organizational member, (c) natural capital consist of size of family land and operational land, (d) financial capital includes value of livestock, size of savings and loan, and (e) physical capital comprises ten household assets i.e. sanitation system, drinking water system, power supply, radio player, television, bicycle, sewing machine, mobile phone, shallow pump machine and power tiller. The association between these capitals and well-being status of the surveyed households has been analysed by Gamma and Lambda test. The result shows that family size and education of human capital are statistically significant at less than 0.05 levels. Likewise, organizational membership of social capital and family land as well as operational land of natural capital is significant at less than 0.01 levels. Similarly, value of livestock, size of savings and loan of financial capital are significantly associated with wealth status. Although most of assets of physical capital is not statistically significant but their composite score is significant and strongly associated with well-being status. Overall, the status of livelihood (incorporated with different capitals) is not satisfactory and the association is somehow significant with the well-being status. This study suggests to ensure education facilities and effective family planning system, increase income generating options, ensure medical treatment, improve the activities of CBOs, provide low interest loan by initiating special programme and improve structural (embankment, road network and electricity supply) development in order to improving the livelihood status of the char dwellers of the study area. This research work done among the small number of population as well as in a small char area of Ganges River. In future, it is necessary to continue such research among the large group of people as well as in large char area.

Knowledge Management: Journal