Two recent presentations by DFM-supported students, Md Mahfuzar Rahman and Jessie Varquez, at major conferences illuminated critical facets of the dried fish industry.
At the American Anthropological Association (AAA) – Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA) Annual Meeting 2023 in Toronto, Canada, Md Mahfuzar Rahman, a PhD Candidate from the University of Manitoba, addressed a key paradox in dried fish production in Bangladesh. Rahman’s presentation titled “Reconciling quality and affordability: tackling the dual challenge of price escalation and quality assurance in dried fish for enhanced nutrition security in Bangladesh” resonated with participants in the Foodscapes in Transition session. His analysis highlighted the struggles faced by Bangladesh’s dried fish sector to develop strategies to improve quality in the context of soaring costs, thin margins, and socio-economic complexities. Rahman showed how compromises in production methods not only jeopardize the industry’s sustainability but also endanger the health of consumers reliant on this vital nutrition source.
For conference details, AAA-CASCA Annual Meeting 2023
On the other side of the globe, at the 45th International Conference of Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT/Anthropological Association of the Philippines), Jessie Varquez, also a PhD Candidate from the University of Manitoba, presented a paper entitled “Byang sang Danggit (Home of Rabbitfish): local knowledge, coastal ecology, and governmentality in Human-Rabbitfish Relations on Bantayan Island.” Varquez’s presentation delved into the intersections of livelihoods, ecology, and governmentality in the social wellbeing of dried fish actors on the island.
For conference details, the 45th International Conference of Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao
