Livelihood status of fish cutters in noakhali, bangladesh

Abstract:

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic condition and livelihood status of the fish cutters in Noakhali, Bangladesh from March 2019 to August 2019. All the fish cutters (twenty-seven) were selected from this area who were involved in fish cutting in four different fish markets. The data were collected through the well structured questionnaire, survey and interview. The results of the study revealed some interesting facts and data interpretations showed that most of involved fish cutters (52%) were in 21-30 years age group whereas all of them were male. It was also revealed that 67% of fish cutters belongs to Muslim community while the rest (33%) were belongs to Hindu community and 41% of fish cutters were obtained in the primary educational category while 15% of them were illiterate. Most of the respondents (78%) came from joint family and lived in tin-shed houses (93%). Moreover, 48% of fish cutters had their own tube-well; 59% used kaccha toilets and all of them had electricity or solar panel. The highest number (30%) of respondents started working as fish cutter from 1-3 years and majority (48%) of them worked from 7 to 9 hours in a day. Furthermore, Majority of the respondents’ (89%) main occupation was fish cutting and 59% of the respondents’ income ranged from 800-1000 BDT per day. All the fish cutters except one (96%) preserved fish by-products (especially air bladder and scales) by sun drying method. The price of by-products varies from species to species such as scales of fishes ranged from 40 to 70 BDT per kg and air bladder of Koral (Lates calcarifer) fish ranged from 2000 to 6000 BDT per kg after drying. Five instruments (wooden platform, machete, brush, net and bucket) were used by the respondents and they had no institutional training for this work. The major constraints of this study were found to be the lack of proper knowledge, permanent place, drainage system, water availability, governmental support, illiteracy and application of advanced technology.