Poverty Alleviation through Aquaculture: An Inquiry into Some Selected Areas of Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

An investigation was made to assessing the contribution of aquaculture on poverty alleviation in rural Bangladesh. A total of one hundred five (105) farmers comprising of seventy five (75) from fish farming households and thirty (30) from non-fish farming households were selected as sample. The farmers were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. The data were collected from the study areas through questionnaires survey, focus group discussion (FGD) and cross-check interviews. Results of the study indicated that current fish production increased on an average 4300 Kg/ha/year as compared to before records (1252 Kg/ha/year ).Aquaculture contributed 29.67 percent on total annual income after participation in aquaculture. Estimated Benefit-Cost-Ration (BCR) was 3.10. A pronounced changing state on the quality and quantity of livelihoods capitals such as human capital, social capital, natural capital, physical capital and financial capital were observed comparing with the before situation. Fish consumption pattern analysis result showed that in before fish consumption quantity was on an average 33.66 gram/capita/day and that quantity rose to on an average of 63 gram /capita/day after participation in aquaculture. The estimated Head Count Poverty rate was found to be 16 percent in fish farming households as compared to 26 percent of the non-fish farming household which indicated that non-fish farming households were likely more poor than fish farming households. Regarding aquaculture production, income generation, livelihood assets acquisition and food fish security it was concluded from the present study that aquaculture surely have had a significant contribution to poverty alleviation in the rural Bangladesh.