Does Fish Farming Improve Household Nutritional Status? Evidence from Bangladesh.

Md. Mostafa Shamsuzzaman,Muhammad Salim Al Mahadi,Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder,Romaza Khanum,Petra Schneider

doi:10.3390/ijerph19020967

Abstract

In the present study, nutritional status was assessed using dietary diversity of fish and non-fish farming households in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. It has determined the incidence of poverty in fish and non-fish farm households through a comparative analysis of family profile, food consumption, calories, and protein intake. A total of 420 farms were selected for data collection using structured questionnaires with 210 fish and 210 non-fish farm families. The study using both descriptive and functional analysis revealed that the respondent age of both farms was 45.10 years, family size was 5.70, average education was 4.64 schooling years, and average farm size was 0.514 hectares. As a result, due to the increase in household income, fish farm families improved their food consumption, calories, and protein intake in comparison with non-fish farms. On a direct calorie intake (DCI) basis, the overall absolute and hardcore poverty levels of fish farm households were 32 percent and 18 percent, respectively, while those of non-fish farm households were 22 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Therefore, the incidence of poverty was higher in non-fish farming families than in fish farming families. In principle, provision of various forms of government assistance through the Department of Fisheries (DOF) will further intensify and strengthen fish farming, which will easily bring fallow and uncultivated lands of the area under fish farming. Moreover, it is possible to inspire the younger generation through this research that will help them to become a fish farm-based entrepreneur. The main conclusion of the present study is that fish farming is more positively related to household income, family food intake, and nutritional status than any other type of farming.

Highlights

The present study focuses on crop farming, and the question is, which agricultural activity plays an important role in ensuring food security as well as family nutrition in the rural economy? it was very important to find out whether the food consumption and nutritional status of the fish farming family has improved compared to other farms in a particular area
This conceptual framework of studying nutritional status was Mymensingh is known as the greater district of fish farming in Bangladesh
The results clearly indicate that the nutritional status of the fish farm households was good because the calorie and protein levels in the diet were higher than the recommended levels

Summary

Introduction

Food consumption generally refers to the dietary habits of people, which vary from country to country or region to region. Dietary habit is generally assessed through food items and their shares in total consumption, frequency of intake, and nutrient composition. Adequate amount of food consumption both in terms of quantity and quality is one of the key determinants of nutritional status for a human to survive, which results from the relationship between nutrient intake and requirements and from the body’s ability to digest, absorb, and use these nutrients [1].

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion