Abstract This study examines the plight of hilsa fishers in Bangladesh, grappling with challenges such as poor market access, scant capital, and shrinking fish stocks. This situation led to the seasonal dadon loan system, which provides immediate financial aid but often traps many fishers in a relentless debt cycle. We adopted a socio-ecological systems (SES) framework to examine the interconnected social and ecological dynamics of the hilsa fishery industry. Using a blend of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, we assessed the impact of the dadon loan system on small-scale fishers across four fishing locales in Bangladesh. The results indicate that the dadon loan system is a temporary financial prop for fishers but perpetuates debt cycles and curbs long-term financial security. Factors such as restricted access to formal credit, high fishing costs, and inadequate government support drive this system. This study identifies potential alternatives, such as government-backed loans, community finance schemes, and the promotion of alternative livelihoods, which could reduce reliance on the dadon loan system and improve fishers’ socioeconomic conditions. Implementing these strategies may dismantle the debt cycle, boost fishers’ welfare, and strengthen the socio-ecological resilience of fishing communities.
Download This Paper Open PDF in Browser Add Paper to My Library Share: Permalink Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely Copy URL Copy DOI
Abstract Crop yield is heavily influenced by soil salinity. The objective of the research is to assess the depth wise soil salinity distribution pattern and groundwater quality by measuring physico-chemical parameters in the agricultural land of Nijhum Island, Noakhali, Bangladesh. This study also explicates the spatial variation of soil salinity in the study area. Soil samples were collected from three different depths to estimate the Electrical Conductivity (EC) using a paste of 1:5 soil and distilled water suspension (1:5 weight-to-volume method). Spatial analyst tool of ArcGIS was used and observed that the land of Nijhum Island was affected with severe salinity in almost 85% of sampling plots and 15% of sampling plots were extremely saline. The soil salinity process has been noticed due to seawater intrusion from the Bay of Bengal through the Meghna estuary which threatens crop production and soil fertility, threatening the population's livelihood. This study provides a baseline understanding of soil salinity in Nijhum Island to help decision-makers and smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods. Thus, groundwater depth did not affect soil salinity significantly. The result contradicts most studies that found a strong influence on soil salinity. Because the study area is coastal, most of the salt comes from seawater inundation and capillary rise, which reduces groundwater availability.
The ability of many bacteria to adhere on the host surfaces and forming biofilms has major implications in a wide variety of industries including the food industry, where biofilms may create a persistent source of contamination. In the same environmental condition, the multiple bacterial species can closely interact with each other and may easily enhance their drug resistance capability, which finally increases the multi-drug resistant (MDR) attribute of the species.The present study examined whether the mixed-species biofilm possesses any impact on the enhancement of the antibiotic resistance of the planktonic or single-cell bacterial isolates present in the fish samples.In this regard, Cyprinus rubrofuscus (Koi), Heteropneustes fossilis (Shing) and Mystus vittatus (Tengra) fishes were collected and subjected to form an in vitro biofilm by shaking condition into the wise bath. The drug-resistant pattern was determined by the Kirby Bauer technique.All the samples exhibited a huge array (up to 107 cfu/ml or g) of bacteria such as E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., Proteus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. The isolates from both the bulk samples and their corresponding biofilms were subjected to antibiogram assay using antibiotics such as Ampicillin (10 µg), Erythromycin (15 μg), Streptomycin (STP 10 μg), Oxacillin (10 µg), Nalidixic acid (30 µg). Before biofilm formation, few of the isolates were found to be sensitive and few were resistant against the antibiotics. But when the species were isolated from the biofilm the sensitive one acquired drug resistance and resistant strain unveiled more resistance towards the same antibiotics. The present study revealed extensive bacterial contamination in fish samples among those some were resistant against the supplied drugs.After the formation of multi-species biofilm, the isolates became more resistant against the same drugs that is alarming for consumers and major obstacles to maintain sustainable health.
Present study assessed the pathogenic prevalence in municipal water from 10 supply point and deep tube-well water from 10 deep tube-well point delivered across the Kashipur zone of Narayanganj city, Bangladesh along with their drug resistant pattern through conventional, biochemical and disk diffusion methods. The physico-chemical properties of the deep tube-well water were in satisfactory level, only the samples from location 1, 3, 5 and 9 were exceed the marginal limit for dissolved oxygen however most of the samples of supplied water cross the marginal limit of all parameter (dissolved oxygen ,temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolve solid and turbidity). Pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. were found in both supplied water and sewerage authority water (102–106 cfu/ml) and deep tube-well water (102–104 cfu/ml). Additionally, fecal coliforms, Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp. was monitored only among the supplied water. Both of the samples were found to be contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria up to 108 cfu/ml. Most of the bacteria were found to be resistant against more than one drug. Hence, the municipal water of the study area was microbiologically unsafe. The propagation of drug resistant strains was assumed to escalate the public health threat. A survey on public opinions were also conducted to know their daily life style and their concern on water treatment and diseases outbreaks caused by contaminated water.
'%3e%3cg id='b'%3e%3cpath id='a' stroke='%23000' stroke-width='2' d='M-6-25H6m-12 3H6m-12 3H6'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' y='44'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0 17v10'/%3e%3ccircle r='12' fill='%23cd2e3a'/%3e%3cpath fill='%230047a0' d='M0-12A6 6 0 0 0 0 0a6 6 0 0 1 0 12 12 12 0 0 1 0-24z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg transform='rotate(-123.69)'%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0-23.5v3M0 17v3.5m0 3v3'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)