Towards Socially Responsive Shrimp Farming: Land Tenure, Institutions and Sustainability in selected Commercial Shrimp Farming areas in South-Western Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates the land tenurial dynamics along with farming systems and land use patterns, and analyses the institutional relations seeking the social responses across the shrimp farming areas of south-western coastal districts. The research aim was to understand the land tenure issues with associated institutions, refute the criticisms that have been recycled over the decades, and describe the antecedent process of commercial shrimp farming growth in Bangladesh. In contrast, the previous studies explored mainly socially unresponsive activities, including land grabbing, dispossession, and salinity intrusion caused by farming systems. Little has been done in the context of positive social responses that have happened over time by the smallholder shrimp farmers towards addressing the sustainability issues and environmental problems. Using a mixed method approach that combines quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, focus group discussions and case studies, this research examined land tenure, farming systems and institutional roles in three central shrimp-producing coastal districts: Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira. The study found the departure of influential outsiders, the successive fragmentation of large shrimp farms into smaller ones, farming shrimp on their land, lower productivity and less profitability, which resulted in reduced land-related litigations and illegal encroachment on adjacent crop lands. Secure access to land initiated new farming systems, and the land owners innovated and adopted indigenous techniques. Integration of shrimp-finfish- rice-vegetable farming systems emerged across the south-western coastal region, seen as a landmark transformation in land use patterns in small-scale shrimp farming. Less stock density, minimum use of feed and fertiliser, recycling of household and farm iii materials under a closed system of water use are considered the farming systems as environmentally benign in nature. The institutional role for developing shrimp farming and its sustainability in the study areas was not very favorable, while the de facto institutions played better roles than public sector institutions (de jure institutions). Most respondents demand technical and financial support from the public sector extension department, research institutions and government banks. This study also developed a conceptual framework termed “Socially Responsive Shrimp Farming (SRSF)‟, consisting of a list of criteria picked up from the national and international codes and principles to examine whether field practices are socially responsive. The thesis concludes that the small-scale aqua-agriculture farming is a dynamic system with several interconnections and operated mostly by smallholder land owners has now converted into a family-driven small-scale polyculture system where varieties of aquatic and agricultural foods are produced both for the global and local markets. The study recommends further research on performance evaluation and monitoring of the farming systems, as well as assessing the interconnections to devise a resilience-enhancing production system without compromising the environmental issues for the future development of the shrimp sector in Bangladesh.