TRAINED HUMAN RESOURCES FOR FISH MARKETING

IN BANGLADESH

Mohammad SHAMSUDDOHA

Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh

Associate Professor Ph.D. Alexandru NEDELEA

Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava

[e-mail]

Abstract:

Bangladesh is a riverine country having many potentials of aqua business. There are so many canals, small and big ponds, rivers and the longest beach in the world. Bangladesh is considered one of the most suitable countries in the world for aquaculture, because of its favorable agro climatic conditions. Development of aquaculture has generated considerable employment through the production and marketing of fish and fish seed. The revolution in water-based food production systems called “blue revolution” in Bangladesh has achieved a 50 percent increase aquaculture production, mainly because of new semi-intensive technology using locally available feed ingredients and other inputs. Having such potentiality for a long, Bangladesh could not able to prepare its human resources those who are engaging aqua businesses into skilled forces. If Bangladesh will able to do so, they can contribute much more than what they are performing now. It will generate much more foreign currency in our GDP.

Keywords: Fish, Marketing, Human Resources

Introduction

Bangladesh is a riverine country with more than 200 large and small rivers. In addition to the rivers, there are thousands of lakes, ponds, haors and baors. Together these wetlands form a very complex and productive aquatic ecosystem. The economic and ecological services provided by this ecosystem include water supply, fish, navigation, recreation, and wildlife habitat (Kabir and Nadia Sharmin, 2000). Fisheries are a very important economic activity that supplies about 80% of the protein consumed by the people of Bangladesh. It also gives occupation to thousands of fishermen (www.dfid.gov.uk). Fish is a valuable natural resource in Bangladesh that contributes significantly to the national economy. Fisheries account for about 3.27 percent of the country's GDP. It is an important source of animal protein in Bangladesh where it contributes 60 percent of the animal protein supply of the country. Nearly one-tenth (11 million) of the country's population is involved in fishery and fishery related activities (Abdullah, M, 1999). The importance of inland fisheries in Bangladesh has been well documented in the literature. Bangladesh has nearly 4.5 million ha of inland water bodies, which includes marshes, reservoirs, Oxbow Lakes, natural depressions, rivers and estuaries (BBS, 1997) that offer extensive opportunities for inland fishery. In 1997 the inland fishery employs some 1.2 million full time fishers (FFYP, 1997; BBS, 1997), with a total fish production of 1.07 million metric ton. In Bangladesh, most of the inland fishery exploitation activities are small-scale and traditional in nature. For a long time, a group of middlemen or powerful individuals in the society has managed the inland fisheries, who managed to secure yearly leases from the government through auctions; otherwise, government officers managed the fisheries within the framework of a government management system. In both cases, fisher participation in decision-making was ignored and they participated only in fish harvesting as mere laborers. These systems however had failed to serve the national interest of conserving the fisheries and protecting the economic fortune of the fishers (Aguero, 1989). Instead, it created unequal power structures that kept poor fishing communities at the mercy of leaseholders and encourage resource overexploitation (Ahmed et al., 1997). Pressures from an increasing fishing dependent population, huge fishery management costs and an excess of fishing effort relative to the availability of fish stock have contributed to declining catches of some species, and the subsequent decline in fishing incomes (Ahsanullah, 1989). All the literature shows that fish is such an item, which can contribute massively to our society. Nevertheless, the infrastructure and skill human resource is the main scarce of this sector.

Rationale of the study

In Bangladesh, there is huge imbalance of import and export trade that is why government is searching few items so that he can able to generate much more revenue from that for the sake of the smooth mobility of the country. Fishing sector is one of the sectors; he can manage more earnings from this sector if this sector would be unorganized to organize. Bangladesh is trying to develop its unskilled human resources into semi skilled or skilled human resources so that they can contribute to this industry and to compete in local and global market. This paper tried to unearth the real situation of the fish sector in Bangladesh and at the end, the researcher set some recommendation for the sake of preparing skilled human resources for this industry. This research will add some value and fill up the gap that motivated the authors to undertake such a study

Objectives of the study

In the light of development of fishing industry in Bangladesh particularly, the main objectives of the study are discussed about the real scenario of fishing industry in Bangladesh. In this study period, the researcher also tried to unearth the problems behind this industry and find out some recommendations for the sake of the development of fishing industry.

Scope and Methodologies of the study

The study covered coastal regions of Bangladesh. Two coastal villages were selected for study purpose. The total sample respondents were 100. The researcher selected from the two study villages, taking fifty from each village. This study includes two villages in Cox's Bazar .Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Secondary data were collected from different published documents of the Government like Economic Survey Reports, Five Year Plans, and Statistical Yearbooks. Further, various publications of national and international organizations like NGO Forums, CODEC, DFID, NRI etc were collected. In the process of analyses of collected data, various statistical tools like averages, percentages, tables, graphs and diagrams were applied in order to make the study worthier, informative, and useful for the purposes.

Limitations of the study

The study covered very limited number of sample areas in respect of its real scope all over the country. Sometimes respondent were not interested to express to their honest opinion. To overcome these limitations, an exhaustive study of existing literature in this field, foreign journal, relevant publication by Government, International organizations and other private agencies were studied. This is fully self-financed research work that is why the researcher could not able to cover wider area.

Analysis of Findings

Fisheries sector and aquaculture sector in Bangladesh

Fish plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. Most of the fish supply comes from aquaculture. Out of a total production of about 839,000 MT of fish in 1998, 583,000 MT, or nearly 70% came from aquaculture and the value of aquaculture production was estimated at US$ 1,493 million. Even though shrimp accounts for only around 10% of aquaculture production, it accounts for nearly 30 % in value. Fish exports, especially shrimp exports, figure prominently in the country's exports. Exports of fish and fishery products from Bangladesh in 2000 were valued at US$ 360 million, second largest foreign exchange earner after garments. Shrimps account for nearly 86 per cent of exports by value and the volume of shrimps exported in 2000 stood at 28,000 MT. Aquaculture productions in Bangladesh is primarily based on extensive shrimp farming practice. Trapping shrimp fry and juveniles in rice fields as well as well as areas impounded by dykes with facilities allowing tidal water to flow in and out, is the common practice. This practice was restricted to coastal districts of Khulna and Sathkira until 1960s, covering a total area of 2,500 ha. With the expansion of shrimp aquaculture in the 70s and 80s, more land was put under shrimp culture. By early 90s, the area expanded to over 100,000 ha coming under over 4000 extensive farming facilities. At present shrimp farms, cover 140-150,000 hectares and produces nearly 90% of the shrimp exports while the balance comes from marine capture fishery. From a socio-economic angle, aquaculture industry is of very much importance in Bangladesh (S Subasinghe, 2001).

Role of Government

Some of the challenges in sustainable fisheries development and management pertain to deciding the most appropriate institutional framework. One is the delineation of the respective roles of government and the private sector. Another is raising the level of capacity and responsiveness of government fisheries management agencies in carrying out their role and functions and in implementing sub-sectoral strategies. One of the important roles of government is developing, with the private sector, a conducive and enabling policy environment for sustainable fisheries development and management. The Bank, as part of its fisheries lending, will assist DMCs to evaluate the applicability of the following policies: (i) legislation and other policies that will devolve to local levels some fisheries management responsibilities over water, fisheries, and other resources in the coastal zone and in freshwater ecosystems to resolve conflicts and to promote rational resource use; (ii) adoption of sectoral market-based instruments (e.g., taxes, license fees, tradable permits) to complement command-and-control regulations (e.g., quotas, zoning, direct regulation of polluting and destructive activities) in managing fisheries and aquaculture production activities; (iii) market orientation and elimination of subsidies, price controls, tariffs, and protection for all fisheries inputs and outputs; (iv) imposition of user fees on private users and the proper pricing of public resources to promote their better use; and (v) macroeconomic policies (monetary, fiscal, and trade policies) to identify and mitigate negative impacts on the utilization of living aquatic resources. The identified roles of government will require efficient and responsive institutions to respond to the sectoral challenges and to efficiently carry out the tasks. The Bank will support capacity building and institutional strengthening in DMCs in policy analysis, project and program formulation, implementation, research, extension, enforcement of regulations, monitoring, and surveillance of fisheries and related resources. The role of government in fisheries development includes intervention in areas where private sector participation is not appropriate or feasible. In certain circumstances, this may be the case with respect to the provision of physical infrastructure in strategic locations to support the integration of the fisheries sector with other sectors of the economy (e.g., farm-to-market roads and fishing ports). Where possible, such infrastructure should be financed by the private sector. In cases where government does provide essential infrastructure, this does not imply management of the facilities by government itself; the private sector may have a comparative advantage in this aspect. Moreover, in appropriate circumstances the Bank will assist DMCs in the application of mechanisms (e.g., build-operate-transfer schemes or variations thereof) that have been successfully employed in infrastructure development in other sectors, for private sector investment in fisheries-related infrastructure.

Statistics are important inputs in the formulation of management and development plans for the fisheries sector, and hence should be collected, maintained, and made accessible to users. Statistics should include, among other things, time-series catch, and effort data for important species and fishing grounds, fishing boat registry, time-series output prices and input costs, level of exports and imports, periodic costs and earnings studies, and levels of employment. These data are usually lacking in most DMCs. The Bank will support the continuing generation of fisheries statistics and national and regional databases, either as stand-alone projects or as part of larger projects, in conjunction with analysis and interpretation of the data and their use in formulating management and development plans(S Subasinghe, 2001)..

Role of the Private Sector and Local Institutions

The private sector and local organizations will be expected to play a major and increasing role in the fisheries sector. Consistent with the basic principles outlined above and with lessons learned from past projects in the sector, the Bank will promote the role of the private sector in offshore and deep-sea fisheries, processing, marketing, and exports through deregulation, rationalization of fiscal interventions, and privatization of government-owned production and processing facilities. The Bank will assist governments to promote the participation of fishing communities in the formulation of localized coastal zone and inland fisheries management programs with people-based initiatives for resource rehabilitation, self-imposed fishing restrictions, and community monitoring of resource utilization. NGOs will be supported for organizing fishing communities, enhancing their awareness of resource conservation approaches, developing community self-reliance, and coordinating ecosystem-wide resource management plans and systems. In the implementation of fishery projects, the Bank has used four major types of institutional arrangements: (i) credit lines for sub loans to end users, (ii) cooperative societies, (iii) government-owned autonomous cooperatives, and (iv) government departments.

Development of marine fish farming

The development of farming methods for marine fish has lagged far behind that of salmonid and other freshwater species although significant progress has been made during the last two decades or so. In Europe, farmed sea bass, sea bream, and turbot are now readily available in fish markets and other valuable species, such as halibut, sole and possibly even cod, are poised to come on line within the next five years. Nevertheless, why has commercial reality taken so much longer to achieve with marine fish than with salmonids? The simple answer is the size of the larvae; those of marine fish larvae generally being much smaller than those of salmonids. The important consequence of this is that the larvae are difficult to feed on formulated feeds, first because particles small enough to be ingested are difficult to prepare and, second, because the weak swimming capabilities of the larvae preclude the use of high water exchange rates to remove uneaten food, which would otherwise quickly, produce unhygienic conditions. Perhaps even more importantly, these small larvae are relatively poorly developed particularly in relation to their digestive competence. (S Subasinghe, 2001).

Problems of Fish Marketing from Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

After producing or collecting fishing products, everybody should do marketing work for sell the product for a long. Efficient marketing is essential for the growth and development of agriculture and industry. Marketing may be described as the chain of processes backed by creative thinking that spreads from the concepts of product through strengthening the want for the produce to when it is consumed or used (Latif,1976). In the absence of the same, an existence of problems in coastal fish marketing both the fishermen and consumers suffer a lot. Table 1 represents that the most important problems are lack of financial credit and presence of limited number of private institutions in study areas. By facing all the problems by fishermen, as a result fish catches are declining day by day. Absence of quick, efficient and cheap transport system adversely affect fish marketing efficiency due its perishable nature.

Table 1: Problems facing by fishermen while doing Fish Marketing

No.	Problems	Sample	Respond	Frequency of Responses in percentages
1.	Lack of adequate fishing equipment	100	85	85%
2.	Absence of adequate marketing Knowledge	100	65	65%
3.	Lack of security in the fishing place	100	55	55%
4.	Lack of modern communication facilities	100	67	67%
5.	Lack of financial credit	100	100	100%
6.	Lack of latest fishing information	100	95	95%
9.	Pollution of seawater/river water hindering sea fish breeding	100	75	75%
10.	Lack of standard weighing system	100	90	90%
12.	Absence of government help and guidance	100	92	92%
13.	Quickly perishable nature of fishes	100	93	93%
14.	Lack of Private investment	100	63	63%
15.	Problem of getting Reasonable price	100	97	97%
Total				100+

[Source: Field Survey] [Note: Percentages exceed 100+ because the respondent answered more than one choice at a time]

Fish is a potential renewable natural resource of Bangladesh. The study pinpointed a number of marketing problems as stated above. The solution of these problems is warranted for the benefit of fishermen, people involved in marketing chain and the economy of the country as a whole.

Probable Suggestions to Overcome

In the context of problems facing by the fishermen, they suggested some recommendation to overcoming the situation. Table 2 demonstrates that easy access to market and easy access to loan are the main prerequisite for efficient distribution of marine fishes in the study areas. The table further states that Availability of fishing equipments through easy access loan, Training and development, Regular Marketing and Market information, Communication and transports facilities, Availability of logistic support , Increase Government, private sectors and foreign investment, Ensuring Standard weighing, Easy to get financial credit, Security Improvement at deep sea, adopting legal measures, and creating social awareness to control sea water pollution may go a long way to solve the problems of fish marketing from the coastal areas of Bangladesh. In addition, the table shows that the provisions of logistic support and improvement of law and order situation in the coastal areas can also play an important role in the improved operation of the coastal fish marketing system.

Table 2: Showing the Probable Suggestions to Overcome Problems of Fish Marketing

No.	Suggestions	Sample	Respond	Frequency of Responses in percentages
1.	Availability of fishing equipments through easy access loan	100	100	100%
2.	Training and development	100	82	82%
3.	Regular Marketing and Market information	100	78	78%
4.	Communication and transports facilities	100	72	72%
5.	Availability of logistic support	100	86	86%
6.	Increase Government, private sectors and foreign investment	100	100	100%
9.	Ensuring Standard weighing	100	100	100%
12.	Easy to get financial credit	100	100	100%
13.	Security Improvement	100	55	55%
Total				100+

[Source: Field Survey] [Note: Percentages exceed 100+ because the respondent answered more than one choice at a time]

Before that, the entire agency should work with together and have coordination. Foreign investors should invite by the government by giving them all necessary infrastructures. If they overcome their problem through these recommendations, Bangladeshi fish will keep valuable contribution to its GDP.

The way to build efficient/skilled human resources for effective fish marketing

These problems will overcome if some steps taking by authority. The main objectives are to develop huge number of unskilled people in this field in to semi skilled or skilled. There are probable steps suggest by the researchers by the opinion taken from various fishermen and relevant authority. These are follows.

Government initiatives

To develop human resources to operate fish marketing effectively to compete locally and globally; government has to take major step like create institutions for marine or fishermen training, increasing infrastructure and financing. Government has to motivate his fishermen and their allied to come up for better training and education.

Proper human resource planning for fishermen

Some one from government authority should take the overall responsibility to make effective human resources through co-ordination of various agencies. This agency should monitor the co-ordination matter. Effective HR planning and coordination is equally significant for private and public sector in Bangladesh. Especially educational infrastructure should be updated based on need. In Bangladesh, there is lack of marine fisheries institutions, it should be more than that otherwise unskilled can not meet up the future demand of protein through fishing industry.

Arrange easy Loan

Every organization like government, private financial institutions, NGOs, and foreign investors should come up to give micro credit to fishermen. Otherwise, things will be very difficult while that will go for fish marketing.

To recruit professional trainer

To generate the admirable flow of skilled human resources in fishing industry, professional trainer is mandatory for all. Professional trainer should be hire from domestic or foreign sources due to give technical knowledge, proper education, training, and motivations to the fishermen.

To create employment opportunities and recruitment

After establishing HRD institutes or invest to the HRD institutes, Govt. and NGO should aware of creating new job and field. The quantity and quality of education and training largely determine the kind of persons available for recruitment into the services. The agencies should clarify the area of employment opportunities and ensure the recruitment.

Invite private and foreign investors

The authority should invite and welcome the foreign and local private investors to come up in this sector and arrange some easy loan schemes for fishermen, arranging some training programs, importing latest technology and updated information, which is necessary to develop skilled human resource in this field.

Appropriate Modern technology

A low-cost intensive or semi-intensive fish culture technology should initiate for the sake of developing skilled human resource for fishing industry. These sorts of project considered factors such as the technical capacity and ability of farmers to provide the required inputs exclusively from their own resources and the undrinkable and multipurpose nature of rural ponds.

Arrange workshop, seminar, and live demonstration

The relevant authority should arrange workshops, seminars, conferences, and live demonstrations for acknowledging the fishermen regarding latest knowledge of fishing and marketing.

Develop security situation

The relevant authority like police and navy should improve the security situation. They should guide to the fishermen that which area would safest to harvest fish for them.

Concluding Remarks

The role of marine fishery institutions for developing human resource is massive. Country like Bangladesh has great emergence to develop his human resource into efficient and effectively basis for the domestic market to export much more fishing items in the foreign market and meet up the demand of protein in domestic market as well. It is one of the substitutes in connection with the development of Bangladesh. Skilled human resources can able to contribute the society in a significant way in various sectors. There is extraordinary competition in free market economy. Everybody compete with their efficient human resource and increase their productivity, innovation of new products, ensures quality assurance and create new market positioning. Moreover, efficient human resources create from a good institution. So human resource development through good institutions should be given the top most preference in the fishing industry development process of Bangladesh along the line discussed in this paper. After maintaining all the recommendations, skill human resource will build so that they will be the key factors or contributor to develop the fishing industry and Bangladesh as well.

References

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15. Website of Food and Agricultural Organization(FAO)

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18. www.worldbank.org

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