The Old Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra River is one of the three major rivers of Bangladesh, with a total length of 2,900 km. The old Brahmaputra River was once the main flow of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system. The main channel of the river flowing through Bangladesh is known as the Jamuna and the old channel is known as the old Brahmaputra which arises near Bahadurabad and runs through Mymensingh to the south and at BhairabBazaar it falls into the Meghna. When the Brahmaputra rushes from India, it drowns thousands of hectares of cultivable and habitable land, washes away valuabletopsoil,and leaves behind nothing but silt and sand. Every year the Brahmaputra floods leave thousands of people homeless.
Livelihoods of Char Dwellers
The livelihoods of a large number of char dwellers are associated with fishing of the old Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh District of north-central Bangladesh. More than a decade ago, thousands of char dwellers were reported to make a living collecting fry of Indian major carps. A study took place in Kalibari Char, just north of an old bed of the Brahmaputra River which is situated on the other side of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) campus. Around 50 families live in Kalibari Char. Data were collected from fishermen and community members through questionnaire interviews, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools such as focus group discussion, social mapping and trendanalysis, and observation of fishing activities The majority of households in Kalibari Char are referred to as 'fishing-dependent,’although the degree of dependence varies due to their location, proximity to the water, and socio-economic conditions. In general, fishermen are socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged and lack their own financial resources. Overall fishing and fisheries activities are important for the majority of households in Kalibari Char. Despite high involvement in fishing, many households still consider agriculture as their primary occupation. Diversification of income generation and subsistence activities is an important livelihood strategy for many people living in this char. The range of income generation and livelihoods activities of all households includes fishing, drying of fish, fish marketing, fish culture, daily laboring, small business, homestead gardening, livestock rearing, firewood collection, boat repairing and net making.
Fishing Activities
Fishermen are dependent on fishing as a source of income and nutrition, and their income varies with their capability to catch fish. Although fish are caught throughout the year, catching rates are highly seasonal and are related to the flood and water levels. Fishermen are categorized into three groups: professional, seasonal and subsistence. A total of eight types of gear were recorded being used in the study area: seine net, gill net, cast net, push net, lift net, moiya net,
traps and hooks. From the survey, it was found that a fisherman daily catches an average of 1.5 kg (range 0.4-5.2 kg) of fish. The highest catch was obtained during the receding of floodwaters in October and the lowest in April when the water level of the river was at its lowest. Alarmingly, the catch of fish has declined by an estimated 40% in the past ten years.
Socio-economic Conditions
Increasing population pressures may aggravate the problem of meager incomes of char dwellers. According to the survey, the average daily income of a fisherman was calculated at Tk 105 (US$ 1.50). However, their income varies with fish catching rate, use of gears, seasons and the market price of fish. According to the fishermen, a few years ago (2000-01) they earned more money than they do now. The surveyed respondents claimed that their income had decreased over the last few years, which they attributed to high fishing pressure. The households of Kalibari Char have limited access to basic amenities such as housing, health facilities, drinking water and sanitation. The overall education and literacy rate is low as 88 percent of household heads have no formal education. The low education level implies lower income as well as poor socio-economic status. Living conditions of char dwellers are extremely poor. Almost all families use river water for bathing, washing clothes and dishes. Most respondents noted that their families could not have three meals a day (i.e., mainly twice) and live from hand to mouth. The study suggests that the households of fishermen face severe health and sanitary problems; with no medical facilities, people often suffer from diarrhea, cholera, anemia and malnutrition.
Suggestions for Sustainable Livelihoods
Key issues concerning sustainable livelihoods of char dwellers are high population, poor resources, lack of alternative employment opportunities, high fishing pressure, low income, no credit facilities and conflicts among community members. Recommendations to address these concerns are education for children and other community members, credit facilities, training of fishermen, institutional and organizational support, government support and extension services. Research on fish catch assessment, biodiversity and conservation may need to be given particular attention. Moreover, research is required to improve the value of the fishery considering the relationship between the ecosystems
And livelihoods.
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