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Livelihood Status of Sundarbans Dependent People at Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira, Bangladesh

ABUL KALAM AZAD
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University. Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

MD. NAJMUS SAYADAT PITOL
Mangrove Silviculture Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Khulna, Bangladesh.

MD. GOLAM RAKKIBU
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University. Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Azad AK, Pitol MNS, Rakkibu MG. 2020. Livelihood status of Sundarbans dependent people at Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira, Bangladesh. Asian J For 5: 28-35. The study aims to know the livelihood status and dependency on Sundarbans at Shymnagar Upazila in the Satkhira district. A questionnaire survey was carried from 130 respondents in three unions. Most of the respondents (65%) were middle-aged (30-50 years old) and 22% of them were female and 78% were male. Among them about 51% were illiterate, 24% had primary education, while 25% had secondary education. About 72% of respondents were fully dependent and 21% were partially dependent on Sundarbans for their livelihood. Only 37% of people in these areas had their shrimp farm (gher). The respondents collected fuelwood (92%), aquatic resources (80%), small timber (54%), honey (27%), goran (Ceriops decandra) (8%), and golpata (Nypa fruticans) (6%) from Sundarbans. Only 63% of respondents had their livestock like cows (2%), poultry (68%), and goats (30%), whereas 84% of respondents were involved with different NGOs. Among the respondents, 70% had the access to disaster warnings, whereas only 24% had shelter facilities. Only 28% of respondents had access to drinking water from deep tube-well and 33% from ponds. About 50% of respondents did not get better medical treatment and were dependent on village doctors and only 8% of respondents received treatment from Government hospitals. It was alarming to know that about 91% of respondents did not know comanagement in Sundarbans. Most of the people living here were not satisfied with their present occupations and about 98% of them were eager to start a new occupation. Only 11% of respondents got benefitted from government Vulnerable Group Feeding / Vulnerable Group Development support.

Keywords: Co-management, Dependency, Literacy, Livestock, Respondents, Shelters, Treatment

Location: Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Socio-economic status

Objectives:

This study was carried out to capture the present livelihood pattern. It aims to know the present occupation and income, literacy rate, dependency rate on Sundarbans, livestock, drinking water sources, involvement in different NGOs and to find out present and future potential alternative livelihood opportunities for local people.

Methodology:

Study area Shyamnagar is regarded as the largest Upazila of Satkhira district, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Kaliganj (Satkhira) and Assasuni Upazilas on the north, Sundarbans and Bay of Bengal on the south, Koyra and Assasuni Upazilas on the east, West Bengal of India on the west. It is located between 21°26´ to 22°54´ North latitude and between 88°54´ to 89°20´ East longitude under Satkhira district (B.B.S 2011). The Upazila occupies an area of 1968.24 km-2 including 1622.65 km-2 of forest (B.B.S 2011). According to B.B.S (2011), the total population of 318,254, consisted of 48.21% males and 51.79% females; by religious beliefs, the population consisted of Muslims (79.35%), Hindus (20.37%), Christians (0.01%) and others (0.25%). Some indigenous groups like munda, bhabene, charal and kaiborta also belong to this Upazila. The annual relative humidity ranges between 79-80%, the annual average precipitation is 1,689 mm and the daily temperature varies from 21ºC to 30ºC. The main rivers of the study area are Betrabati, Hariabhanga, Ichamati, Jamuna, Kalindi, Kholpatua, Kobadak, Morischap, Sonai and Raimangal.

Data collection A multi-stage sampling scheme was used to select the sampling population. A total of 130 respondents from three unions namely Munshigonj (54), Gabura (52), and Burigualini (24) were selected deliberately because of their proximity to the Sundarbans. Secondary statistical data was collected from the forest department, libraries, different journals, newspapers, and different NGOs.

Data processing tools The data was calculated in the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V) and Microsoft Excel to calculate necessary indices. There were some data such as the amount of production, landholding size, etc. whose units were in local terms in questionnaires and hence were converted into standard units.

Source of Information: ASIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY Volume 5, Number 1, June 2021 E-ISSN: 2580-2844 Pages: 28-35

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.13057/asianjfor/r050104

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

To conclude, most of the local people adjacent to Sundarbans are directly or indirectly dependent on Sundarbans for their livelihood. In addition, the major physical risks are associated with the people through their poor communicative networks. The livelihoods analysis based on findings in Shymnagar Upazila reflects a legible picture of the life of poor households in the polder areas. Comanagement on Sundarbans and other income-generating activities (IGAs) training is rare here. If there are enough facilities for this training, it may facilitate to improve the income of the local people. The government and different NGOs should provide various easy loans and technical support so that they can start alternative occupations and their dependencies on the Sundarbans may be reduced significantly. Further, the livelihood pattern of the local people with seasonal changes is a cause of concern and the concerned authorities may urgently ponder upon necessary steps to be taken in the future.

Knowledge Management: Journal