Fish farmers

The study was conducted the fish farmers in some selected area at sadar upazila in Jessore under the district of Jessore from September to December 2013. A total of 100 fishermen were selected by stratified random sampling method and interviewed. The average me mbers of single family were 5-6 people per household. Single families were much more (62 %) than joint families. Most of the fish far mers were Muslims 92% and few of them were Hindus 8%Most of them had the secondary educational background and some of them with different levels of higher education. It was found that the number of school going children was 2-3 per house. Full katcha (17 %) houses were few, while the semi-pucca (40%) and pucca (43%) houses were more abundant. Regarding health and sanitation, 31% fishermen reported to suffer fro m gastric and 17% suffered from fever. Most of the interviewees were found to take credit facilities from different sources for the subsistence of their family and their venture. The 98% were found to have their tube-wells, others using Governmental tube-well, or those belonging to schools or neighbors However, they need more institutional, organizational, and technical and credit support for their better socioeconomic and sustainable livelihood.

Fish farmer associations offer the potential to support the development of small-scale fish producers and hatchery owners in Bangladesh, through collective bargaining power and receipt of technical assistance. In this study the contribution and constraints that such associations possess is evaluated, through assessment of strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats, and evaluation on whether the critical attributes of strength, empowerment and sustainability means such associations will be able to prosper in Bangladesh. The study canvassed stakeholder opinion using key informant interviews using a structured questionnaire and workshops to inform the SWOT analysis and
consideration of the extent to which current associations have the necessary attributes to succeed. The report highlights the key typologies of associations, membership and leadership structures, activities undertaken, linkages to government and supplier of services including inputs, and access to service and extension activities, including
credit; and the extent to which these contribute to strong, empowered and sustainable associations. Aquaculture has long been an important livelihood option for millions of people in Bangladesh, providing low-cost high-quality animal protein supplied predominantly through small-scale producers. The reports highlights to extent to which associations can help and support expansion and improvement in profits and livelihoods.
Most associations in Bangladesh operate at a local level, often at an informal level which generally stop operating for several reasons and would benefit from an apex organization to support fish producers and hatchery operators across the country, as well as district associations. At a district level, the unregistered Jessore District Fish Hatchery Owners
Association is the most successful and provides a useful assessment of how good leadership, an active membership and financial security provide for a strong, empowered and sustainable association at the local level. Nationally, the newly formed and soon to be formally registered (with government) Bangladesh Fish Hatchery and Culture
Association (BFHCA) is already showing good leadership, effective management and developing activity that will support members, although government support is needed to ensure the association is able to actively support Bangladesh aquaculture policy and
strategy, and receives sufficient government and extension service support, as the country tries to increase production. The study concludes by suggesting several policy-oriented recommendations for Government, and action-oriented recommendations for associations
to improve long-term sustainability for aquaculture associations in Bangladesh.