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Outbreak of Covid-19: Impact on Socio-economic Condition of Shrimp Farmers in South-west Coastal Bangladesh

Shawon Ahmmed
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna-9280, Bangladesh.

Mizanur Rahman Washim
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna-9280, Bangladesh.

A. K. M. Shafiqul Alam Rubel
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna-9280, Bangladesh.

Md. Latiful Islam
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Brackishwater Station, Paikgacha, Khulna-9280, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on the livelihood status of coastal Shrimp farmers using farm size, production and income of South-west Bangladesh. This study is empirical in its design. Data on socio-economic factors were collected randomly from selected Shrimp farmers. Both open and closed-ended questionnaires and directed to the Shrimp farmers of the South-west coastal region of Bangladesh. The present study was carried out at the Khulna district (seven selected Shrimp farming locations; viz., Paikgacha, Lasker, Goroikhali, Lata, Kapilmuni, Amadi and Koyra) of Bangladesh for a period of five months during the pandemic of COVID-19 (April-August, 2020). The key data were collected from a face-to-face interview of 120 respondents. A brief outline of the nature and aim of the study was given to each respondent before the interview was commenced. The information of the respondents was written in the questionnaire immediately after completing the interview. Collected data were tabulated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel (version 2016). Most of the respondents were middle-aged (68 %) and living in nuclear families (71 %). The majority of the Shrimp farmers were illiterate (53 %). A greater proportion (66 %) involved in small-scale Shrimp farming as a primary occupation followed by moderate (27 %) and large scale (7 %) Shrimp farming. More than half of the respondents earned >20000 BDT (USD$ 1 = 85 BDT) in each month before the pandemic. The production activities were seriously hampered due to unavailability of inputs including aqua medicine, disinfectants, labor crisis, seed, and feed, growing the price of production materials and interrupted communication, etc. due to the pandemic. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the production from their Shrimp ghers, drastically curtailed the market price, and consequently greatly compressed their income and livelihoods. The pandemic known as COVID-19 has had a catastrophic impact on human activities, with the Shrimp farming sector being no exception. This study revealed that the socio-economic and income status of the Shrimp farmers was noticeably vulnerable during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Thus, large numbers of farmer families were unable to fulfill their minimum needs (food, income, and medical care).

Keywords: Covid-19; Income; Lockdown; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.

Location: Khulna district of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-04-2020

End Date: 00-08-2020

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Socio-economic status

Objectives:

To understand the current socio-economic status of coastal Shrimp farmers of South-west Bangladesh as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the great sector.

Methodology:

The present study was carried out at Khulna district of Bangladesh for a period of five months during the pandemic of COVID-19 (April-August, 2020). Seven selected Shrimp farming locations were used for the study; viz., Paikgacha Sadar, Lasker, Goroikhali, Lata, Kapilmuni, Amadi, and Koyra sadar. However, the sample size was estimated using the Cochran formula. The data were collected through face-to-face interviewing of 120 respondents. The questionnaire was prepared for the collection of relevant data and information in accordance with the study objective. To draw an accurate scenario, both open and closed forms of questions were included in the questionnaire for collecting data in detail. However, the reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach’s alpha. The questionnaires were prepared in English and then the authors translated it into Bengali to ensure effective communication with respondents during the direct face-to-face interviews. Each respondent was given a short oral explanation about the purpose of the study before starting the interview. Henceforth, the questions were asked one by one based on the serial number provided to the study participants previously. For each interview, the given time was about 25 minutes for answering. Collected data were fed in Microsoft Excel (version 2016) and analyzed by considering descriptive statistics and presented in histograms and pie charts. Data of age, family size, educational status, and gher size were coded and enlisted. Similarly, the percentage of variables occurrence was also calculated.

Source of Information: Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research- 12(2): 20-29, 2021

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.9734/AJFAR/2021/v12i230230

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Due to SARS-CoV-2 and the partial engagement in Shrimp farming activities poor socio-economic conditions of the Shrimp farmers in the Khulna district of Bangladesh were revealed in this study. Thus, large numbers of farmer families were unable to fulfill their minimum needs (food, income and medical care). Most of the Shrimp farmers were middle-aged, mostly illiterate, and lived in families with >5 members. The overall Shrimp production and income were greatly reduced and that of the livelihood was noticeably threatened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowledge Management: Journal