Haor based livelihood dependency of a rural community: A study on Hakaluki haor in Bangladesh

The study was carried out in hakaluki haor situated in moulovibazar and sylhet districts to explore the socio-economic status of the people residing near haor areas and their dependency on its resources. this paper also sheds light on the present status of the hakaluki haor,using pattern of resources by the local people and identification of some causes for the degradation of the resources of hakaluki haor. the study shows that most of the inhabitants face problems because 37% of the households in our sample villages belong to extremely poor group (monthly income below tk. 2,000 = 29 us$)(1us$ equals to 69 tk). their haor based livelihood activity is fishing (32%) followed by duck rearing (29%),cattle rearing (28%) and fuelwood collection (6%). the average annual income from fishing is about 45,000 tk (652 us$). but,the quantity of fish harvest in haor has decreased alarmingly due to illegal harvesting and unsustainable collection of fish. about 15% of households were totally dependent on the haor for their livelihood while the others were moderately (32%) or less dependent (53%). indiscriminate harvesting of the haor vegetation i.e. swamp trees (hijol (barringtonia aculangula),barun (crataeva nurvala),karoch (pongamia pinnata)) has caused elimination of vast area of plants. about 27% fuel was collected from the haor and selling price of fuelwood was tk 45 = 0.71 us$ per kg. from the sale of ducks and eggs the respondents earn an average of about 450 tk (6.52 us$) per month. majority (85%) of the respondents reported that hakaluki haor was a vital source of livelihood,while 8% considered it as a source of aesthetic beauty. the haor is being degraded rapidly due to mismanagement and destructive activities. the government should formulate appropriate policy and laws,implement these for the protection of this valuable resource,and adopt an integrated joint management plan involving the local people.