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Food Aid Programme During Restricted Hilsa Fishing Period: Effectiveness and Management Perspective

Md. Mahamudul Hasan Mredul
Department of Aquaculture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Md. Ektear Uddin
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

A.K.M. Kanak Pervez
Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh

Farhana Yesmin
Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Antara Binte Akkas
Faculty of Fisheries, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is geographically and economically important species in Bangladesh. To conserve hilsa, the government of Bangladesh has introduced fishing ban for certain periods of the year and also provides food assistance to hilsa fishers during the restriction period. Inadequate management often pushes real fishers out of the assistance programme and therefore, this study focused on assessing the effectiveness of the programme with a view to proposing a better management practice. A total of 202 randomly selected fishermen, living in the villages adjacent to Andharmanik River of Patuakhali district of Bangladesh, were interviewed. The Andharmanik River is famous for the natural breeding of hilsa. Results suggest that the amount of food provided and its distribution pattern were not that effective for the fishermen. Effectiveness was significantly related to the number of earning able family member, income difference between peak and restricted season and loan facility during the restriction period. This study also explained income difference trajectories of the fishermen community. Community-based management with facilitation by the state fisheries department and local government entity may enhance the programme effectiveness. More awareness programme and research are needed in this regard.

Keywords: Fishing restriction period, fishing ban, Food assistance, Hilsa fisher, Livelihood, Hilsa conservation

Location: Andharmanik River of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-04-2018

End Date: 00-08-2018

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Seasonality in production

Objectives:

To identify the effectiveness of government assistance programme during jatka restriction period.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in six villages (Sudhirpur, Sirajpur, Nizampur, Yousoufpur, Lotifpur and Njibpur) adjacent to the Andharmanik River of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. The Andharmanik River (21.9861°N and 90.2422°E) is a unique hilsa sanctuary in Bangladesh, described earlier. In study areas, there were approximately 800 HHs who directly depend on hilsa fishing. However, a total of 202 HHs were selected by the random sampling method. Household surveys involved structured interviews. The interview schedule was pretested in the field and was adjusted accordingly. The final data were collected during the period from April to August 2018. A scoring system was developed to measure the demographic characteristics and these were considered independent variables. The effectiveness of food assistance was considered the dependent variables. The effectiveness of food assistance programme was measured by a five-point scale ranging from totally agree to strongly disagree with a corresponding score 4 to 0 for those who received food assistance (N = 158). Efficiency was further rated in five dimensions, which were the quantity of food, quality of food, time of distribution, compliance to restriction and fairness of management. Therefore, the effectiveness score of an individual ranged from 0 to 20. In addition, seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were carried out to gather qualitative information on coping strategies during crises period. Furthermore, five Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also accommodated to achieve triangulation in results and discussion. The key informants were influential fishermen, relevant NGO workers, net makers, and sellers. The Pearson product-moment correlation was employed to analyse and describe the quantitative data. Computer software SPSS (version 21) was used to run those analytical models. Qualitative data were used ac- cording to the need of description and placed according to the theme discussed.

Source of Information: Journal of Fisheries 8(1): 752–761.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Bangladesh is known to others as a harbour of delicious hilsa fish. To conserve this species in Bangladesh and to enhance its production, the restriction or ban on hilsa fishing is needed for a certain period especially during the breeding seasons. Most of the hilsa fishermen are eco- nomically vulnerable and therefore, to support them, the Government has introduced the food assistance programme. Our results showed that the current food assistance programme is not that effective due to political involvement, nepotism and corruption in the process and demands revision. Credit at a high-interest rate from the local moneylenders aggravates the plight of poor fishers. Therefore, low-interest institutional loans to vulnerable fishermen maybe help and the Government should take necessary steps regarding this issue. We also found that the existing food disbursing system is problematic and hence, we propose a new management plan to improve the effectiveness of the food management programme. Along with some other, the establishment of fishermen group, induction of market governance and preparation of the list of vulnerable fishermen were suggested in the proposed management plan and we seek the attention of the responsible organisations (e.g. Department of Fisheries of the Bangladesh government) in this regard. Fishing-based alternative livelihood options are also suggested to rehabilitate the vulnerable fishermen during the restricted fishing period. A community-based management system for greater effectiveness and conservation is also recommended. From the correlation result, we found that several socio-demographic factors are significantly related to the effectiveness of food assistance programme and therefore, the government may consider these factors to im- prove acceptance level by the fishermen as well as to make assistance programmes effective.

Knowledge Management: Journal