Effect of Dadon on the Catch, Quality and Post-harvest Loss Reduction of Open Water Fisheries in Kishoreganj Haor

To assess the impact of dadon (interest-based loan) on catch, quality and post-harvest loss (PHL) reduction of open water fisheries, a 12-month study was carried out among the six fish landing centers (FLC) under 5 haor upazilas in Kishoreganj district of Bangladesh, viz. Chamra ghat Matshaya Arat in Karimganj upazila, Tarail Matshaya Arat in Tarail upazila, Chouganga Matshaya Arat in Itna upazila, Korgaon bazar Matshaya Arat in Kotiadi upazila, Rodar podda Matshaya Arat and Nikli notun bazar Matshaya Arat in Nikli upazila, from August 2018 to July 2019. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire interview and focus group discussion on dadon receiver (DR) and dadon non-receiver (DnR) fishermen and the data were verified and checked through key informant interviews (KII). One hundred twenty (120) interviewees (60 fishermen from each group of DR and DnR) were randomly selected from 6 landing centers to collect empirical data. The rate of commission taken by aratdar was higher in DR (5.9%-8.5%) compared to DnR (3.9%-5.69%). Results indicated that, no icing practice (34.17%), poor hygienic condition during handling (15.83%) and use of inadequate ice in fish after harvest were the major reasons for post-harvest loss of wet fish. The estimated average PHL was 6.7% in fishers' custody from DR compared to DnR (12.4%), but the PHL was increased in the successive supply chain, the PHL of fish from boat to FLC and up to arat by DR was significantly lesser compared to DnR (P < 0.05). The fish handling status was comparatively better in DR fishermen (p > 0.05) compared to DnR, while DR washed their fish better than DnR (p < 0.05). Uses of ice box, steel drum, plastic drum and plastic crate were found to be dominant among the DR compared to DnR (p < 0.05). Ice-fish ratio was found to be inadequate (p < 0.05) by DnR fishermen (ice: fish = 1:2.99) compared to DR (ice: fish = 1:1.58). The catch size and sell/day of fish by DR fishermen were higher compared to that of DnR fishermen (p > 0.05). Therefore, the study revealed that DR fishermen were found to be comparatively able to catch and sell more fish, keep the quality of fish better and reduce the PHL more than DnR fishermen.