Status of crab collection, fattening and trading in southwest region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Mud crab collection, hardening, fattening and trading provides livelihood for many coastal communities in the southwestern region of Bangladesh. The present study was carried involving various stakeholders in crab collection, production and trading in the region to know their status and wellbeing. A reconnaissance was carried out at Rampal the study area and farmers to conduct the study during January to February 2015. Data were collected using PRA tools such as questionnaire interview, focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KI), rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and transect walk (TW) involving 20 participants each from crab collector, fattener and trader to know the prevailing crab venture in the area. The results revealed that most of the participants belonged to the Hindu communities, their average age was 32-40 years and major occupation was crab related activities. The survey also exposed that the crab traders were more educated, well off and dominant than the other two groups. On the other hand, number of family members was higher than the national average (5.05) with the crab fatteners than the collectors and traders. The crab collectors were the poorest among the three groups. A moderate number of crab stakeholders irrespective of groups drink rain and pond water in the region. The crab traders solely depended on the trading for their livelihood; whereas, 15 and 20% fatteners and collectors had secondary occupation to run their family other than the primary occupation. The results of the present study showed that the shrimp farmers have been shifted to crab fattening due to various problems with shrimp farming and all the crab stakeholders are satisfied with their new business than the previous job.