STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION OF MARGINALISED HOUSEHOLDS IN SHRIMP VALUE CHAINS OF COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH

Shrimp sector contributes significantly to export earnings and employment generation for on and off farm activities in Bangladesh. Expansion of shrimp farming naturally lead to a change in use pattern of coastal land, in the form of a shift in land from other economic and environmental uses to shrimp culture. But marginalised households are rarely participating in shrimp value chain because they have very limited access to resources. The present study identified the constraints to participation of marginalised households in shrimp value chains in order to formulate effective strategies for encouraging participation of marginalised households. To attain this qualitative data were collected from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh through 6 focus group discussions and 40 in-depth interviews during July to September 2018. In total, a sample of 100 respondents, containing 60 marginalised households from focus group participants, 30 private and 10 public stakeholders was selected purposively for the study. Thematic content analysis was employed for analysing the collected qualitative data. It was evident that the marginalised households engaged mostly as labourers in shrimp value chain and added some value in each node. As no sampled marginalised household was engaged as shrimp farmers, they showed their keen interest to become shrimp farmers. Both the participant and non-participant marginalised households reported some constraints to become shrimp farmers. The study identified market-based solutions of the key constraints. The participant and nonparticipant marginalised households stated their own strategy that by forming group they could become shrimp farmers. The public and private stakeholders recommended ‘push’, ‘pull’ and ‘blend’ (push-pull) strategies for participation of marginalised households in shrimp value chains. Interventions targeting the marginalised people are needed for their entry into shrimp value chains. Marginalised households should form collectives/ association/ farmers club/self-help group for greater extent of participation in shrimp value chains. Article history Received: 21 Apr 2021 Accepted: 16 May 2021 Published: xx Jun 2021