Save the Children_SUCHANA: Ending the Cycle of Under-nutrition in Bangladesh_Quarterly Progress on Nutrition Sensitive Aquaculture, Fisheries and Horticulture activities of Suchana. Oct - Dec 2020

Abstract

WorldFish is mainly promoting the nutrition sensitive aquaculture and fisheries including horticulture on the pond dyke and around available homestead land to the Suchana beneficiary households. It comprises nutrition sensitive aquaculture and fisheries interventions along with the coverage of half (50%) of the beneficiary households for vegetable gardening to improve nutrition status of women of reproductive ages and children less than two years in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts. WorldFish is committed to contribute through increasing production, consumption and income under HFP and IGA support of nutritious fish and vegetables using homestead or leased ponds, land and through utilizing public and private water bodies/wetland potentials under Pillar 3. Considering the topography, agro-ecological and social contexts of the targeted areas, different technologies have been adopted to promote the nutrition sensitive fish farming in the ponds, captured from accessible open water with fish drying and vegetable cultivation at the pond dykes including the homestead and surrounding lands. Based on expectations from the beneficiary households, poultry rearing has also been incorporated especially for some of the households those have pond but pond’s water areas are less than three decimals per household; and those were targeted without pond but had potentials for subsistence fishing options. All these interventions are also addressing the climate resilient and adaptation techniques and practices. WorldFish is also emphasizing the access to nutrition specific activities from other consortium teams towards promoting the diversified diets. Almost entire activities of WorldFish related components targeted for current reporting quarter and most of the cumulative targets up to December 2020 have been achieved successfully. A total 16,937 (98% of AIP) HFP-BHHs, 184 (99.5%) Demo-pond BHHs and 2,707 (99.5%) IGA-Aquaculture and Fisheries BHHs have received their allocated inputs. A total 16,647 (96%) HFP-BHHs, 289 (117%) Demo-Pond BHHs and 310 (44%) IGA-Aquaculture BHHs have received training as well. Capacity building training, orientation, meetings and linkages events for the private and public sectors like fish hatcheries, nursery operators, patilwalas/ fingerling retailers, and officials of DoF and DAE have also been achieved. At least 2 fish hatchery operators, 33 nursery operators and 40 patilwalas/ fingerling retailers participated in different events; and a total 123 officials from local offices of DoF and DAE participated in different formal events. Based on the findings from fourth Semi-Annual Survey conducted by external consulting firm from iDE, annual average fish production per HFP-Aquaculture BHHs of Phase 3 unions have increased in 36.7 Kg/BHH in 2020 and that was 27.1 Kg/BHH in 2019 before Suchana interventions. More than three-fifth (62%) of the harvest was used for the consumption at household levels. A portion (4.0 Kg/BHH) of the harvest was also gifted to their relatives and neighbours. Almost one-third (10.1 Kg/BHH) of the harvested fish was sold at the market. The average earning was also increased in 1,528 BDT per BHH which was 1,084 BDT per BHH before Suchana intervention. Besides the encouraging progress in most of the indicators of targeted activities, outputs and outcomes; some beneficiary households need adequate technical follow-ups from the frontline staff members to maintain the quality of achievement for upcoming days.