S. M. Nazmul Alam

Effect of improved earthen stoves: improving health for rural communities in Bangladesh

A study was undertaken to evaluate health effects generated by biomass combustion in improved earthen cookstoves with socio-economic considerations. A questionnaire was developed and a random sampling method was employed for selecting the samples from the population. Five focus group discussions were also held. The majority (93 %) of the respondents experienced reduced hand roughness while 88 % of them claimed not to have hand burns while cooking with the improved system. Virtually all (98 %) women said they had better health and lifestyle improvements by using the improved earthen stove. Many of the health hazards from the traditional stove have been reduced to a great extent. Womens contribution to family income increased by 0.24 % of the total following use of improved stoves (average increase 13.83 taka/month). Respondents reduced cooking time by 25 % and saved 45 taka/month in fuel costs. The average household saved 1.5 kg of fuel and 45 minutes time daily by using the improved earthen stove.

RE-ORGANIZING THE SHRIMP SUPPLY CHAIN: AFTERMATH OF THE 1997 EUROPEAN UNION IMPORT BAN ON THE BANGLADESH SHRIMP

The shrimp industry in Bangladesh experienced problems with international buyers resulting from serious deficiencies in infrastructure and hygiene standards in processing plants and other upstream activities and from inefficiencies in government and private quality control mechanisms. In 1997, the European Union imposed a ban on import fishery products from Bangladesh into the European Union. This resulted in losing market access to the European Union for a few months, streamlined regulations, strengthened the competent authority, improved monitoring and inspection systems, and upgrading processing plants and depots. The ban was lifted after 6 months subject to meeting inspection standards and other provisions. After upgrading production facilities, working conditions, and adopting a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Point system, 59 processing plants received approval to export to the European Union. The shrimp supply chain has been substantially reorganized and production processes restructured to satisfy safety and quality standards imposed by developed countries. This paper examines the effect of the European Union ban on the shrimp export supply chain in Bangladesh.

Establishing Participation: The Case of Empowering Communities in Wetland Fishery Management

Abstract Participation of local fishing communities in conservation measures for enhancing fish populations has been established in Ashurar beel, a large perennial wetland in northeast Bangladesh. Caritas, a national NGO engaged in government led partnership arrangement Community Based Fisheries Management project to organize and motivate fishers with integrated approach towards understanding and implementing development initiatives. The study period encompassed since the project inception in 1996 to 2002. As the concept was new therefore, it was justified to select the study period in the subsequent years during the project period to investigate the outcome of community based management effort launched by the project. This gave an opportunity to critically see how the fishers acquainted themselves with the concept of the project approach in terms of fisheries management, sustainable use of recourses, equity, building up community organization, and at the same time how effectively they apply these in their work. The major areas for the study were related with the development of human resources, capital resources, and fisheries management. After a year of deal 25 Village based fisher groups with 527 members are organized. Cohesiveness among the members and a sense of ownership on the resource has been generated with diversified activities. A network interconnecting the organized groups has happened to form an institution and ensuring the fisher rights. Fishers established a fish sanctuary for enhancing natural fish population that has become the ever-largest functional sanctuary in Bangladesh. With NGO support backed by government, fishers have been empowered resulting in more sustainable and productive fishery management.

Safety in the Shrimp Supply Chain

Abstract Shrimp is a seafood item that is loved by people all around the world. It is one of the most important and perishable internationally traded commodities. Farmed shrimp can contain a wide variety of contaminants, including residues from veterinary medical products, and are detained, rejected, destroyed, or returned to the country of origin if the contamination poses a public health threat. To ensure market access, shrimp-producing nations have considerable experience of the internationally determined quality standards at every stage along the export chain. With growing international rules and regulations on food safety and quality, these countries have made substantial progress toward managing safety, hygiene, and standards by adopting new technologies and organizational practices, which have benefited all stakeholders across the shrimp supply chain. This trend will continue with the adoption of more measures to make this industry safer for consumers.

Conserving fish stocks in an inland aquatic ecosystem: The effect of community based fisheries management in Bangladesh

Abstract Fishable species abundance through conservation measures for enhancing fish populations by the participation of local fishing communities has been established in Ashurar Beel of northwest Bangladesh. A government led partnership, the Community Based Fisheries Management project, has been introduced to organize and motivate fishers towards the understanding and implementation of fisheries management practices. Fisher groups from 25 villages with 527 members are included in the project. An institution connecting the organized groups, the Beel Management Committee, ensures fisher rights. A fish sanctuary has been established by fishers for the residence of brood fish and to develop guidelines to limit fishing in the fishery. Tremendous production of fish from the beel has been achieved. Major changes were observed in catches, species compositions and the contribution of species to total production. Most of the catch is small fishes, particularly Puntius sophore. An abundance of Ompok pabda, Channa striatus, Channa punctatus, Aorichthys seenghala, Gudusia chapra, Anabas testudineus, and Notopterus notopterus has indicated the successful recovery of these threatened fishes. The measures that were adopted at the community level were found to positively contribute to increased fish production and fish biodiversity. This Fisheries Management Project may serve as a model for other fishing communities with threatened resources