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Livelihood Status of Fishers’ Community of Eshulia Beel at Gouripur Upazila Under Mymensingh District

Md. Moshiur Rahman
Scientific Officer
Freshwater Station, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh

Parvez Chowdhury
Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh

Md. Shahidul Islam
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to determine the present status of fisheries and socio-economic conditions of the fishers’ community of Eshulia Beel at Gouripur upazila under Mymensingh district for a period from February to November, 2015. Most of the fishermen belonged to the age group of 36-50 years. In case of education, 32.5% were illiterate, 40% can sign only, 15% of the fishers had literacy up to primary level, 7.5% had literacy up to secondary level and 5% had higher secondary and above. 75% of the fishermen's houses are katcha, 17.5% are tinshed and only 7.5% are half building. 50% of the toilets are katcha, 42.5% are semi pucca toilet and the rest are pucca toilet, and 35% of the fishermen have their own tubewell. About 52.5% of the fishermen had high (TK. 100000-TK. 200000) income; 42.5% had medium (TK. 51000-TK. 100000) income and 5% had low (TK. 25000-TK.50000) income. The study revealed that, the fishermen of Eshulia Beel were mostly illiterate, poor income, lack of training exposure and lack of awareness about their health facilities and sanitation. So, provide soft term loan and building people awareness have been suggested to improve the livelihood status of fishermen in Eshulia Beel.

Keywords: Socio-Economic Condition, Fishers’ Community, Eshulia Beel, Gouripur upazila, Mymensingh district.

Location: Eshulia Beel at Gouripur Upazila under Mymensingh district

Start Date: 00-02-2015

End Date: 00-11-2015

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Livelihood

Objectives:

It has great influence on fish biodiversity and socio-economic status of fishermen. Many families are directly involved in fishing and earning to maintain their livelihood by fishing throughout the year. For proper development of fishing community, it is essential to understand the baseline information to initiate proper developmental steps and improve the livelihood of fishermen. But, there is no sufficient information about livelihood of fishermen community living around this beel. So, the main purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic conditions of the fishermen of the Eshulia beel of Gouripur Upazila under Mymensingh district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

2.1 Study area Selection of the area is an important step for the study. Based on the problem and potentialities, I selected Eshulia beel in Gouripur upazilla under Mymensingh district and lies between 24°45.5′N and 90°34.5′E. Eshulia beel is a small beel which is 25 km east from the Mymensing town.

2.2 Period of the data collection This study was based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected during the month of February to June, 2015. The secondary data was collected from July to November, 2015.

2.3 Questionnaire interview To collect data with questionnaire interviews, simple random sampling method was followed in 40 fishermen in the Eshulia beel. The interview of fishermen was made at home or beel sites during fishing. For each interview of fishermen it requires one hour.

2.4 Questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a group of methods to collect information from target group in participatory fashion. The advantage of the community, the information method is likely to be more accurate. The participation of fishermen provides opportunity for cross checking individual opinions as well as allowing the community to discuss the issues that they feel important, rather than responding to a questionnaire. For the present study, the PRA tool such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted with fishermen. In the study, FGD was used to get an overview of particular issues such as existing fish composition, fishing systems, management of the beel and also improving the production of the Eshulia beel an as well as its fish biodiversity, socio-economic conditions of fishermen etc. A total of three FGD sessions were conducted in the beel area where each group size of FGD was 10 to15 fishermen.

2.5 Cross-check interview After collecting the data through questionnaire interviews and FGDs, it was necessary to check the information for justification of the collected data. If there were any items contradictory, then information’s were collected from key informant. Cross-check interviews were conducted with key person such as Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO) and District Fisheries Officer (DFO), Scientific Officers of BFRI, School teachers, local leaders, NGO workers where information was contradictory or requested for further assessment. The interviews of the respondents were conducted in their office during office hour or in houses. 2.6 Data processing and analysis The collected data were coded, summarized and processed for analysis. These data were verified to eliminate all possible errors and inconsistencies. The analysis of collected data was mainly based on tabular description technique. Tabular technique was applied for the analysis of data by using simple statistical tools like averages and percentages. Collected data has been analyzed by Microsoft Excel.

Source of Information: International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2016; 4(3): 543-547

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The socio-economic condition of the fishermen in the adjacent area was not satisfactory. The education level of the fishermen was so poor and most of them were illiterate. Due to the lack of awareness as well as the poor income of the fishermen families, the education level of the fishermen children was also very poor. Bank loan and other institutional credit should be made available on easy terms and condition to the fishermen.

Government should take initiative to established an educational institute, extended and development of transportation system and sanitary facilities, and to provide preservation facilities in the study area. NGOs and other organization should come forwarded to supply net and other harvesting and marketing equipment to the fishermen with less fare that may reduce the harvesting and marketing cost. The fishermen should be trained up to build awareness, improve their livelihood status and fishing laws.

Knowledge Management: Journal