The Aquaproducts In Khulna Metropolitan Urban And Peri-Urban Areas

Abstract

Bangladesh has vast potentials for fertile land, water and human resources. It is the third richest country in the world with respect to fresh waters after China and India. The aquatic habitats in the form of ponds and wetlands around the metropolitan cities in the country support the growth of various aquatic vegetable plants and fishes of nutritional importance. A number of poor city dwellers earn their livelihoods through supplying these products as food to the people of the metropolis. Various types of aquatic vegetable plants and fishes are produced either naturally or by culture from ponds and wetlands from around the Khulna Metropolitan city. The products of these kind which hitherto remain unconventional in the market place; the information on their range of types, seasonality, volume of harvest, annual price and the people engaged in the occupation is very scanty. The present study was aimed at evaluating the importance of the various aqua-products that come in Khulna city market and to see their role in food security and poverty alleviation. Data were collected from 50 selling men/women from 8 different urban markets of Khulna metropolitan city through a questionnaire survey. Information were collected on types of plant and fishes collected, their season of availability, volume of harvest, selling price and the marketing channel of the products. A total of 10 different types of aquatic vegetable plants and a number of small indigenous species of fish were seen to be harvested and sold in the markets of the metropolis. Most of the vegetables were available throughout the year; however, the peak season was during August-December. Depending upon the collection and demand in the market, on an average, up to 12 Kg vegetables and 2 Kg fish were sold daily. The supply of the peri-urban aquatic plants and fishes to the urban markets was informal, though, it played an important role in food security, nutrition and poverty alleviation of a section of poor people in the urban areas. This production venture could be organized and upgraded through motivation, training and credit support to the collectors for it to make meaningful contribution in the livelihoods of the poor.