The Study of Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis on Rice in Satkhira

Objectives of the study:

1. One of the objectives of the training was to develop national level EMMA

experts along with an assessment to address the crisis resulting from

water logging in Tala and Satkhira Sadar Upazila of Satkhira District.

2. To identify the market function, what are the links between Rice supply market

system and water logging affected people, if the market is functioning what are

the response options based on identified gaps.

3. To understand the dynamics of wage labor market particularly in waterlogged

area in Satkhira.

:

Tools & Methodologies Used :

• Focus Group Discussion with marginal farmer and wage labor and KII with rice

traders and govt. officials.

• Household income and expenditure profile, source of food, seasonal calendar,

market map and response framework.

Location: EMMA – Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis was done in Satkhira (

Tala and Satkhira Sadar)

Date: 20-27 April 2014.

Study Topic: The study was done on Rice as it is a major contributor to food

security and livelihood in Satkhira.

Link with secondary data: Total food insecure people in Satkhira are 30225 families

(link with JNA), 7123 families were supported by WFP and still 23,000 families are

in need of support.

Key findings from Target Group

Day laborers: • Overall monthly income reduced 19% (BDT 9100 to BDT 7300)• During Disaster period loan money contributed 30% to their income• 10% of their total income comes from assets sellingMarginal Farmers: • Overall monthly income reduced 21% (BDT 9500 to BDT 7500) • Loan Increased 07% to 35% in 2013 • Marginal farmers had to completely rely on two sources such as daily wage income (55%) and loan (35%) during the water logging period Source of food: • During the disaster period in 2013 they had to fully rely on market (98%)Negative coping mechanism: • Food intake reduced from 03 meals to 1.5 -2.0 meals a day that may cause malnutritionGender perspective: •Women labour has increased (20 to 25%) but their wage rate is far low than male• Women labourers can manage regular work during the peak season only but during lean period they have to struggle to find work even with low wage rate

Key findings of Market System

At Producer’s level:• Marginal farmer’s own production reduced remarkably ( Amon crop)• Increased market dependency and reduced buying capacity• Homestead based agricultural activities declined because of inundation• Scope of investment in productive assets reduced which will negatively impact the income generation and food diversity in the long run• Small scale subsistence agriculture practices by the marginal and landless farmers severely disrupted by the water logging.

At Daily labourer’s level:• Daily labourers lost their income fully during water logging period. Currently their employment opportunity became as half as normal period. • Buying capacity of daily labourers remarkably reduced because of loss of livelihoods and income sources•The targeted population is getting indebted day by day to cope the adverse situation• Male agricultural daily labourers shifted to other occupation as scope of employment in agriculture shrunk that increasing rate of migration• Women daily labourers have increased by 20 to 25%. However, there employment opportunities and as well as wage not increased.

At retailers’ level:

• Transportation cost increases during water logging

• In 2011, drainage system in the local markets (hat-bazaar) collapsed and remained

under water for several days that hampered regular business at retail level

• During water logging period, relief workers procure rice from wholesalers that

affects business at retail levels ( 2011).

• During emergency situation, purchase capacity of consumers declines which

declines the trade volume at retail level

At millers’ level:

• Rice mills in the surveyed area are not automated and require sun-drying. During

rainy season, the mills remain closed for about two months.

•The manual rice mills in Satkhira needs sun-drying; in the winter, due to fog and low

light situation, rice millers cannot process the rice and are forced to remain closed for

about a month.

At wholesalers’ level: local rice trade volume for both retailers and whole sellers

reduced by 30% to 40% during water logging.

• During flood period, storages went down under water and remain unserviceable

for 15-17 days

• Carrying cost went up by BDT 3 per bag and thus causes higher trading cost for

wholesalers

• Water logging submerges the road and causes disruption in transporting goods.

Large vehicles like truck cannot come and go easily in the remote markets. The

situation forces wholesalers to bring their products using small transporters i.e.

paddle-pulling van, trolley van etc. The consequences are increased time and

cost for wholesalers

• During water logging period, it takes 2-3 days longer to avail rice in the

wholesale market as road communication gets disrupted

Recommendations:

• Enhancing assistance to Boro rice production through introducing resilient rice

varieties to increase production and local employment that will benefits marginal

farmers and wage labour as well.

• Alternative income generation for day laborer e.g. agro & non-agro based

production.

• Cash based interventions for repairing and maintenance of the infrastructures

including roads, culverts etc with integration of DRR

• Enhance nutritional requirement of affected people as they are compromising

food intake (from 3 meals to 1.5-2 meals a day) for prolonged time.

• Provide some supports to increase purchasing power to the most needy families

(disabled, aged, EP) through limited & targeted cash voucher.

Recommendations:

• Policy advocacy to pump out the water to make Boro Production possible

• Organize community mobilization, advocacy campaign to understand the root

cause of the water logging and to find permanent solution

• Gender awareness session on work load sharing as they got multiple burden

during water logging because of seasonal migration, ownership and decision

making of women need to be increased for empowerment.

• Need to take initiative for increasing storage capacity of traders to have save

storage of rice especially for the emergency period

• Support to the rice millers to transform their manually operated mills to

automatic rice mills to ensure continued local rice production during rainy and

winter season

Cont.

Thank