Socio-economic status of the Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) fishermen of Padma river, Bangladesh

The present investigation was carried out to assess the livelihood status of the Hilsa fishermen of the River Padma, Bangladesh during April 2012 to March 2013. Data were collected by well-structured questionnaire. Most of the fishers were belonged to the age category of 31 to 40 years represented by 56.52-75.00% professional, 20.83-43.48% occasional and 0.00-7.69% subsistence fishermen. About 67.54% of the Hilsa fishermen of Charghat upazila were only could sign their name while 16.62%, 14.05% and 1.57% were illiterate, primary and secondary level of education respectively. In Godagari about 17.79% of fishermen had no education. Catching of Hilsa fish in Padma River was dominated by Muslim fishermen except Horisonkorpur (majorities were Hindus). It was ranged from 45.83 to 78.57% and on an average 57.14 to 78.26% of the fishermen had four to six family members followed by 21.74 to 33.33% had one to three family members and 4.17 to 14.29% had seven to nine family members. Average annual incomes of most of them were ranged from taka 30,000 to 39,999 (85.13%) and 1.79% had above taka 50,000. About 68.14% fishermen households were dependent on village doctor and 24.05% and 7.81% received health service from the Upazila health complex and Kabiraj respectively. Most of the fishemen’s housing conditions were Katcha and 90% fishermen household under Godagari upazila used the river water for drinking and other purposes. The main problems were identified as extortion by local extortionist; other problems such as inadequate credit facilities, lack of appropriate preservation facilities and frequent …