Assessment of Livelihood Status of Shrimp Farmers: A Comparative Analysis During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic
Md. Jahangir Alam
Department of Fisheries Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
Md. Abdullah Akanda
Department of Fisheries, Fish Breeding and Training Centre, Raipur, Lakshmipur, Bangladesh.
Apu Saha
Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, Kalapara, Patuakhali, Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh.
Mst Niloy Jaman
Department of Fisheries Technology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
Maruf Hasan
Department of Fisheries Technology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
Nazmus Sakib
*
Department of Aquaculture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the livelihood status of shrimp farmers during and after COVID-19 in tala upazila of Satkhira district from January to March 2024. Data were collected by using a well-structured questionnaire from 40 shrimp farmers. The study found that 32.5% of shrimp farmers were aged 31 to 40. Regarding education, 22.5% had only completed elementary school, while 37.5% had finished secondary school. The majority of shrimp farmers 62.5% were involved in agriculture. Presently, 60% of fish retailers were belong to small-sized families with 2 to 4 and 35% of 5to 6 members. However, in COVID-19, 62.5% shrimp farmer's families belong to small-sized, respectively. before covid-19 majority had live in kacha house which comprised 32.5%, after covid-19 had significantly increased 35%, respectively. It was shown that fish retailers had a fairly good level of sanitary conditions after covid-19. at present time, 22.5% of shrimp farmers earn less than 20000 bdt, 35% of shrimp farmers earn 50,001 to 100000 bdt from the shrimp farm; during the pandemic 40% of shrimp farmers earned less than 20000 bdt, 30% and 22.5% of shrimp farmers earned 20,000 to 50,000 BDT and 50,001 to 100000 BDT respectively. During COVID-19, 22.5% of shrimp farmers were supported by the government. the enhancement of their livelihood condition will lead to an improvement in the fishing sector.
Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, livelihood status, questionnaire