Student group meeting 2024-03-21

Student Group Meeting: 21 March 2024

Key points:

1. Students whose work area is in Bangladesh presented their research work and discussed its alignment with DFM WG1, WG2, and WG3.
2. The presenters were Mahfuz, Aklima, Safina, Samia, and Nazia.
3. In addition to the alignments discussed with the Working Groups, there is a possibility for collaborative efforts wherein Nazia's blue economy research could serve as the foundation for macro-level policies. Furthermore, the intersection of Mahfuz's, Samia's, and Safina's work on rights, well-being, gender, and occupational health could significantly contribute to the focus of Working Group 1. Finally, Samia's research on food and nutrition could align with the objectives of Working Group 2.

Ancillary discussions:

1. Commenting on Nazia's blue economy presentation, Aklima mentioned that while dried fish may not have appeared in the national plan on blue economy, it was part of the local plan in Cox's bazaar.
2. Aklima also shared an example of how conservation NGOs encourage fisher's to find other occupations.
3. Colleen compared Mahfuz's insights on the imports of fresh fish in Bangladesh to a similar trend in Cambodia.
4. Huan discussed the importance of value addition for the fisherfolk and Jesse mentioned that he was involved in the value addition process in his field site, however there was a conflict on the vision behind such value addition with a local resource person.
5. Identifying successful areas for entrepreneurial development for WG3 was also a point discussed.

Summary of presentations:

1. Mahfuz

Mahfuz's presentation focused on the values, rights, wellbeing, and the social economy surrounding the dried fish industry in Bangladesh. The research objective is to examine the intersection of labor and nutrition within this context, cutting across three working groups. The geographical scope is Bangladesh, with a specific emphasis on dried fish wholesale markets, including both freshwater and marine varieties. The methodology employed is multi-sited ethnography, covering the entire value chain of both freshwater and marine fish.

Key Points of alignment with Working Groups:

1. Working Group 1 (WG1):
   • Highlights the diversity of actors and enterprises involved in the industry.
   • Recognizes the critical role of women in the processing segment.
2. Working Group 2 (WG2):
   • Addresses the use of low-quality imported fish and pesticides in processing.
   • Raises concerns about the unhygienic environment in processing and storage.
3. Working Group 3 (WG3):
   • Examines power structures within the industry, including the presence of commission agents and syndicates.
   • Discusses issues related to monitoring, certification, and the affordability of fish for low-income consumers.
   • Notes Bangladesh's transition to becoming a fish-importing country.

Positive Developments:

• Highlights the emergence of woman entrepreneurs in the online market segment.

2. Aklima Akter

This presentation delved into the social wellbeing of women involved in the dried fish industry in Bangladesh, examining its connection with the state and patriarchal society. It highlights the absence of women-centric policies and patriarchal constraints such as the sexual division of labor and unequal wages.

Objectives:

- Identify the extent of women's engagement in dried fish chains.

- Explore patriarchal constraints within the industry.

- Identify strategies employed by women to counter continuous constraints.

Key Findings:

- Women's involvement in the dried fish industry as laborers is diverse and intricate, with obstacles varying across different locations, situations, times, and contexts.

- Despite challenges, female laborers demonstrate agency and negotiate their roles throughout the value chains.

Relevance to Working Groups:

- Working Group 1 (WG1): Addresses themes of gender, agency, wellbeing, power, value, rights, social justice, and health hygiene.

- Working Group 2 (WG2): Focuses on topics such as nutrition, consumption, and hazards associated with the industry.

Policy Implications:

- Highlights the absence of policies aimed at compensating women for environmental hazards related to their work.

3. Safina

This presentation focused on exploring the occupational health and hygienic provisions within the dried fish processing industry. The overarching purpose is to map out health implications, examine coping mechanisms, adaptations, and institutional governance.

Objectives:

1. To map the intersectional and gender-differentiated occupational status within the industry, particularly focusing on Working Group 1 (WG1).
2. To identify vulnerabilities, pay gaps, and instances of harassment experienced by workers, addressing Working Group 2 (WG2).
3. To analyze institutional governance and power relations concerning occupational health and hygienic provisions, as outlined in Working Group 3 (WG3).

Study Area:

• The research is conducted in Nazirartek, an area characterized by the presence of Rohingya refugees and marginalized workers within the dried fish processing industry.

Key Focus Areas:

• Mapping out the intersectional and gender-specific aspects of occupational status.
• Identifying vulnerabilities, pay disparities, and instances of harassment experienced by workers.
• Examining institutional governance structures and power dynamics related to occupational health and hygiene.

4. Samia

This presentation focused on conducting a nutritional assessment of three selected dried fish varieties to determine essential nutrients and examining the consumption patterns among the Garo population in both rural and urban communities. Additionally, it aims to explore how knowledge, attitudes, and practices influence dried fish consumption among the Garos.

Objectives:

• Assess the nutritional content of major nutrients in three selected dried fish varieties.
• Investigate dried fish consumption patterns among the Garo population in rural and urban areas.
• Explore the impact of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on dried fish consumption among the Garos.

Key Thematic Areas:

• Food security, nutrition, consumption patterns, culinary practices, and knowledge sharing.
• Possible focus on ecology and gender dynamics within the context of dried fish consumption.

Alignment with Working Group:

• The research aligns more closely with Working Group 2, which focuses on nutrition and consumption patterns.

Key Points of Interest:

• Drivers influencing dried fish consumption among both urban and rural Garo populations.
• Traditional and cultural knowledge regarding dried fish among the Garos.
• Methods of knowledge dissemination among the Garos, such as workshops.
• Examination of different culinary practices in dried fish preparation among original and migrated Garos in Bangladesh.
• Possible exploration of behavioral ecology and how interaction with dried fish changes in different environmental and survival conditions, considering the matrilineal family structure.

5. Nazia

This presentation delved into the concept of "Blue Justice" concerning dried fish within the framework of Bangladesh's aspirations towards a blue economy, particularly focusing on the Bay of Bengal as a primary marine source and production area. The shift in the Bangladesh government's focus from traditional marine development to the blue economy emphasizes economic growth alongside environmental sustainability, with themes of social equity, economic viability, and environmental sustainability.

Key Points:

• Differentiating between current practices and aspirations within the blue economy framework.
• Research objectives aim to understand the implications of the blue economy on dried fish actors, particularly focusing on access issues and consequences.
• Utilizes a framework of critical anthropology of development and political ecology to understand theories of access to marine and coastal spaces.
• Study areas include Cox Bazaar and Moheshkhali.

Thematic Areas:

• Development policies and their impact on dried fish actors.
• Analysis of unequal power relations within the blue economy context.
• Examination of issues related to access, equity, and "Blue Justice."

Alignment with Working Groups:

• The research aligns closely with Working Group 1 (WG1) and Working Group 3 (WG3), addressing themes of development, policy, unequal power relations, access issues, equity, and "Blue Justice."

Next meeting date: 1st week of April (TBD)