Human Activities in the Sundarbans: The Dry Fish Farming at Dubalar Char

Supervised By:Professor Dr. M. Shahidul IslamProfessor Dr. Hafiza Khatun Asib Ahmed Md. Anwar Hosain

Introduction:Human activities have become mostly

interactive factor in the Sundarbans. Dry Fish Farming in Dublar Char is the most dominative among all activities. It has a remarkable percentage of population among total working population of the Sundarbans. Historically, fishing in the Sundarban has enjoyed the right to fish without being restricted by any law or obstacles. But the main source of fish in the industry is coastal sea. We surveyed in Dublar Char at Majherkella and Alorkol. Most of the workers of the Majherkella come from Chittagong as well as in Alorkol from Khulna, Shatkhira, Bagerhat. They all are seasonal migrants for five-six month to earn satisfactory money.

Other Human Activities: Honey collectors Timber & Wood collectors Fishing inside the forest area Exploring the Nature Research works Security activities, etc

Location of the Sundarbans:

Relative Location:

The Sundarbans locate by the coast of Bay of Bangal in the southern part of Bangladesh within Khulna division.Absolut Location:

The latitude and longitude for Sundarbans are 22° 10' N/ 89° 25' E.

Location of Dublar Char:

Relative Location:Dublar Char is

situated in the southern part of Bangladesh by the coast of Bay of Bangal within the Suadrban.Geographical Location:

Our study areas were Majherkella and Alorkol in Dublar Char. The latitude and longitude of Dublar Char is 21° 46' N/ 89° 33' E. Our Study Area

Objectives: To evaluate human activities in the

Sundarbans To identify the present conditions of Dry Fish

Farming To identify the causes for growing Dry Fish

Farming in the Dublar Char To show the origin of the workers To find out the socio-economic condition of

the workers To identify their working duration To make Suggestions how to improve dry fish

industry and how to attract the tourists.

Methodology: Data collection method:

Sample questionnaire interview (open and close ended question)

Data analysis method: Quantitative analysis

Number of interviewee : One hundred and fifty

The Dry Fish Farming

Findings from Survey

Availability of fish

Facilities to dry

Work Permit

Availability of Labor

Security

Others

N/A

0.00% 20.00% 40.00% 60.00% 80.00% 100.00%

85.36%

64.07%

11.35%

11.35%

11.35%

43.36%

2.67%

Causes of growth of Dry Fish Farm-ing

Bagerhat

Barguna

Chittagong

Cox's Bazar

Khulna

Madaripur

Mongla

Noakhali

Pirojpur

Rangamati

Satkhira

37.33%

1.33%

30.00%

0.67%

14.67%

0.67%

1.33%

0.67%

1.33%

1.33%

10.67%

Place of Origin of the Workers

<10000

20000-29999

40000-49999

60000-69999

80000-89999

>150000

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00%

11.90%

16.67%

26.19%

7.14%

7.14%

4.76%

7.14%

2.38%

7.14%

2.38%

7.14%

Monthly Income of Owner

Low income: Moderate income: High income:

28.57% 40.47% 30.96%

<3001

3001-4000

4001-5000

5001-6000

6001-7000

7001-8000

>8001

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00%

3.70%

11.11%

20.37%

19.44%

12.96%

6.48%

25.93%

Monthly Income of Labors

Low income: Moderate income: High income:

14.81% 39.81% 45.38%

Illiterate Primary Junior Secondary Higher secondary

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

12.67%

54.00%

24.00%

8.67%

0.67%

Educational qualification of workers

<140 or (blank)

140-154

155-169

170-184

200-214

230-244

0.67%

84.00%

0.67%

12.00%

1.33%

1.33%

Working Days Per Year

Loitta

Churi

Faissa

Chingri

Rupchada

Boiragi

Powa

Chunu

Others

0.00

%

10.0

0%

20.0

0%

30.0

0%

40.0

0%

50.0

0%

60.0

0%

70.0

0%

80.0

0%

90.0

0%

100.

00%

90.00%

81.32%

78.00%

80.01%

42.67%

16.00%

23.33%

18.66%

68.66%

List of Fish being Dried

Aloof from family

Low Income

Security

Communication

N/A

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00%

17.62%

25.02%

27.80%

15.76%

39.81%

Problems workers face in the Dry Fish Farming

Yes

No

N/A

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00%

30.56%

65.74%

3.70%

Workers get ill while working with fish

Cyclone Tidal Surge

Flood River bank

erosion

Others N/A0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

77.33%

40.66%

20.00%

12.66%

2.00% 1.33%

Natural Disasters

Transportation

Communication

Residensial Hotel

Security

Publicity

Arrange festivals

Medical facility

Govt. help

N/A

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00%

36.00%

18.00%

27.33%

34.00%

10.66%

3.33%

4.67%

10.00%

20.00%

Workers opinion on how to attract tourists

Govt. help

Publicity

Communication

Credit facility

Create Market

Political Stability

Stop importing dry fish

Residensial Hotel

Security

Others

N/A

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00%

53.33%

9.33%

8.00%

37.33%

6.67%

3.33%

1.33%

4.67%

6.67%

9.33%

15.33%

Demanded supports to improve Dry Fish Farming

Problems of Dry Fish Farming: Natural disasters such as Cyclone, Sidor, Storms

etc Threat of wild animal Low labor wages Intensity of Habitation pressure Scarcity of pure drinking water Sanitation problem Lack of transportation Lack facility to store dry fish Lack of marketing facilities Serious scarcity of medicine as well as doctors Lack of Government support

Prospects of Dry Fish Farming:

Open new employment Met up the demand of protein Reducing the poverty of local as well as

national people Contribution to national economy Expansion of foreign market and enhance

foreign currency through exporting dry fish

New tourism attraction

Recommendations: Should be ensure the supports from

Government Should ensure the proper amount of wages Should improve the transport facilities Should supply sanitation facility Should ensure the supply of pure drinking

water Should ensure the medicinal facilities Should ensure the security Should help to expand the local and

international market

THANK YOU VERY MUCHGENTLEMEN