Livelihood status of fishers’ community of Eshulia Beel at Gouripur upazila under Mymensingh district

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the present status of fisheries and socio-economic conditions of the fishers’ community of Eshulia Beel at Gouripur upazila under Mymensingh district for a period from February to November, 2015. Most of the fishermen belonged to the age group of 36-50 years. In case of education, 32.5% were illiterate, 40% can sign only, 15% of the fishers had literacy up to primary level, 7.5% had literacy up to secondary level and 5% had higher secondary and above. 75% of the fishermen's houses are katcha, 17.5% are tinshed and only 7.5% are half building. 50% of the toilets are katcha, 42.5% are semi pucca toilet and the rest are pucca toilet, and 35% of the fishermen have their own tubewell. About 52.5% of the fishermen had high (TK. 100000-TK. 200000) income; 42.5% had medium (TK. 51000-TK. 100000) income and 5% had low (TK. 25000-TK.50000) income. The study revealed that, the fishermen of Eshulia Beel were mostly illiterate, poor income, lack of training exposure and lack of awareness about their health facilities and sanitation. So, provide soft term loan and building people awareness have been suggested to improve the livelihood status of fishermen in Eshulia Beel.