Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T13:02:15.546Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Salinity effects on food habits in three coastal, rural villages in Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2011

M.H. Rahman ,
T. Lund  and
I. Bryceson
M.H. Rahman*
Affiliation:
Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Box 1074, Ås 1432, Norway.
T. Lund
Affiliation:
Plant Health and Plant Protection Division, Bioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Høgskoleveien 7, 1432 Ås, Norway.
I. Bryceson
Affiliation:
Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Since shrimp farming started in Bangladesh in the 1970s, it has spread throughout the coastal region, increasing soil and water salinity levels. The water salinity in 2005 in the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagherat and Satkhira ranged from 0.3 to 20.7, 0.4 to 27.1 and 0.7 to 24.8 dS m−1, respectively, whereby it was highly saline for several months of the year. Water salinity above 2.5 dS m−1 is not suitable for irrigation, and may cause animal health problems. Irrigation with saline water may cause ion toxicity and osmotic stress, reducing plant growth and yield. Salinity has reduced the agro-biodiversity in the coastal regions of Bangladesh, and this paper investigates how these changes have impacted human food habits in the three coastal, rural villages Putia (Satkhira district), Srifaltala (Bagerhat district) and Hogolbunia (Khulna district). Fieldwork was conducted from July to December 2006 and Participatory Rural Appraisal methods including transect walks, key informant interviews, group discussions and personal interviews were carried out. In total, 121 respondents were interviewed and historical data from 1975 to 2006 were collected. For historical data, respondents aged above 50 years were sampled, but additional criteria such as socio-economic condition and farm location were applied to assure a sample representative for the population of the coastal areas. The sampled households had characteristics similar to the major part of Bangladeshi households (rural, agrarian based, regarding family size and food habits), and were thus representative of a broader cross-section of households in Bangladesh. As all sampled villages faced increasing salinity and spread of shrimp farming, they were representative of villages in the coastal areas. When salinity increased, the production of vegetables, seasonal fruits, animal species, eggs and milk declined. As the price of the mentioned animal commodities rose, cheaper commodities such as broilers, exotic and marine fish species and exotic oils were introduced. The decision on what to cultivate was also influenced by non-residents converting the farmers' land into shrimp ponds, increasing the salinity in the surroundings and killing the farmers' ducks. These agro-biodiversity changes caused reduced frequency of consumption of beef, goat, native chicken, egg, local freshwater fish, seasonal fruits, vegetables and milk, while broilers, exotic fish, exotic oils and marine fish species were increasingly consumed. Still, the total fish consumption declined. These changed food habits may lead to considerable negative health consequences for the rural, coastal populations.

Keywords

agro-biodiversity changeBangladeshcoastal areafood habitssalinityshrimp aquaculture
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 230 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Kittler, P.G. and Sucher, K.P. 1995. Food and Culture in America. West/Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.Google Scholar
2Lowenberg, M.E., Todhunter, E.N., Wilson, E.D., Savage, J.R., and Lubawski, J.L. 1974. Food and Man. John Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
3Röder, M. 2004. Food security, poverty reduction and gender changes of food habits in Sudan. In Deutscher Tropentag: International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, October 5–7, 2004.Google Scholar
4Brug, J., Debie, S., Assema, P.V., and Weijts, W. 1995. Psychosocial determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among adults: results of focus group interviews. Food Quality and Preference 6:99–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Germov, J. and Williams, L. 1999. A Sociology of Food and Nutrition: the Social Appetite. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
6Mead, M. 1943. The problem of changing food habits. Report of the Committee on Food Habits 1941–1943. Bulletin No. 108, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
7Senauer, B., Asp, E., and Kinsey, J. 1991. Food Trends and the Changing Consumer. Eagan Press, St. Paul, MN.Google Scholar
8Jerome, N.W. 1982. Dietary patterning and change: a continuous process. Contemporary Nutrition Newsletter 7, General Mills Inc.Google Scholar
9FMI. 1998. Trends in the United States: Consumer Attitudes and the Supermarket. The Research Department, Food Marketing Institute, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
10Birch, L.L. 1979. Dimensions of preschool children's food preferences. Nutrition Education 3:77–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Pliner, P. 1982. The effects of mere exposure on liking for edible substances. Appetite 3:283–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Pliner, P. and Pelchat, M.L. 1991. Neophobia in humans and the special status of foods of animal origin. Appetite 16:205–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Nu, C.T., MacLeod, P., and Barthelemy, J. 1996. Effects of age and gender on adolescents' food habits and preferences. Food Quality and Preference 7:251–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14EJF. 2004. Desert in the Delta: A Report on the Environmental, Human Rights and Social Impacts of Shrimp Production in Bangladesh. Environmental Justice Foundation, London.Google Scholar
15Wistrand, A. 2003. Shrimp farming in Bangladesh. In Torre, D. and Barnhizer, D. (eds). The Blues of a Revolution: the Damaging Impacts of Shrimp Farming. ISA Net/APEX, Seattle, USA.Google Scholar
16Ahmed, N., Allison, H.E., and Muir, J.F. 2010. Rice fields to prawn farms: a blue revolution in southwest Bangladesh? Aquaculture International 18:555–574.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Kendrick, A. 1994. The Gher Revolution: the Social Impacts of Technological change in Freshwater Prawn Cultivation in Southern Bangladesh. Bangladesh Aquaculture and Fisheries Resource Unit, Dhaka.Google Scholar
18DOF. 2007. Fishery statistical yearbook of Bangladesh 2005–2006. Fisheries Resources Survey System. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Dhaka.Google Scholar
19Khatun, F. 2004. Fish Trade Liberalization in Bangladesh: Implications of SPS Measures and Eco-Labelling for the Export-Oriented Shrimp Sector, Project PR 26109. Policy Research – Implications of Liberalization of Fish Trade for Developing Countries. Support Unit for International Fisheries and Aquatic Research (SIFAR), FAO.Google Scholar
20EJF. 2002. Farming the Sea, Costing the Earth: Why we must Green the Blue Evolution. Environmental Justice Foundation, London.Google Scholar
21Rahman, S.A., Hussain, M.S., Parveen, Z., and Mohiuddin, A.S.M. 1993. Identifying characteristics of potential and actual acids sulphate soils. Bangladesh Journal Soil Science 24:41–49.Google Scholar
22SRDI. 2002. Soil Salinity in Bangladesh. Soil Research Development Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh, Dhaka.Google Scholar
23SRDI. 2006. Soil Salinity in Bangladesh. Soil Research Development Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh, Dhaka.Google Scholar
24Anderson, H. and Cummings, D. 1999. Measuring the Salinity of Water. Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne.Google Scholar
25Munns, R. 2005. Genes and salt tolerance: bringing them together. New Phytologist 167:645–663.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Miah, M.N. 2009. Family poultry production- means of poverty eradication, self-employment and nutrition for the poor: Bangladesh experience. Proshika, Dhaka. Available at Web site http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/infpd/documents/papers/2004/8bangladesh497.pdf (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
27Khatun, F. 2004. Fish Trade Liberalization in Bangladesh: Implications of SPS Measures and Eco-Labelling for the Export-Oriented Shrimp Sector, Report Project PR 26109. Support Unit for International Fisheries and Aquatic Research (SIFAR), FAO.Google Scholar
28Haque, S., Bhatta, G.D., Hoque, N., Rony, M.H., and Rahman, M. 2008. Environmental impacts and their socioeconomic consequences of Shrimp farming in Bangladesh. Paper presented at Tropentag 2008, Conference on Competition for Resources in a Changing World: New Drive for Rural Development, Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, October 7–9, 2008.Google Scholar
29Manju, T. 1996. Political economy of shrimp culture in Bangladesh. Poverty Research Report 13. GrameenTrust, Dhaka.Google Scholar
30Rahman, H., Bryceson, I., and Lund, T. 2010. Salinity Effects on Agro-biodiversity in Three Coastal, Rural Villages in Bangladesh, unpublished.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31Ali, A.M.S. 2006. Rice to shrimp: Land use/land cover changes and soil degradation in Southwestern Bangladesh. Land Use Policy 23:421–435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32Chaffey, D.R., Miller, F.R., and Sandon, J.H. 1985. A Forest Inventory of the Sunderbans, Bangladesh. Overseas Development Administrator, UK.Google Scholar
33SRDI. 2001. Land and Soil Resource Utilization Manual: Shyamnagar, Upazila, Satkhira District. Soil Research Development Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh.Google Scholar
34Battacharya, D., Rahman, M., and Khatun, F.A. 1999. A Case Study on Bangladesh's Shrimp Farming Industry. Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization and Policies for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. Center for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka and UNEP New York and Geneva.Google Scholar
35Hossain, M.S. 2001. Biological aspects of the coastal and marine environment in Bangladesh. Ocean and Coastal Management 44:261–282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36Rahman, S.A., Hussain, M.S., Parveen, Z., and Mohiuddin, A.S.M. 1993. Identifying characteristics of potential and actual acids sulphate soils. Bangladesh Journal of Soil Science 24:41–49.Google Scholar
37Rahman, M.H., Lund, T., and Bryceson, I. 2010. Salinity Effects on Agro-biodiversity in Three Coastal, Rural Villages in Bangladesh. Norwegian University of Life Science, Ås, unpublished manuscript.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38Rahman, M.H., Lund, T., and Bryceson, I. 2010. Salinity Effects on Fish Species Diversity in Three, Costal, Rural Villages in Bangladesh. Norwegian University of Life Science, Ås, unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
39UNICEF. 2008. Food Prices Increase/Nutrition Security. Action for Children. Food Prices Technical Note. UNICEF.Google Scholar
40HLTF. 2008. High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis. Comprehensive Framework for Action.Google Scholar
41FAO. 2010. Food Based Nutrition Strategies in Bangladesh. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Available at Web site http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ag126e/AG126E05.htm (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
42BBS. 2009. Report on Welfare Monitoring Survey-2009. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Available at Web site http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/Latest%20Statistics%20Release/welfaresurvey_09.pdf (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
43BBS. 2005. Nutrition: Key Findings of Child and Mother Nutrition Survey of Bangladesh 2005. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Available at Web site http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/Survey%20reports/K_child_nutrition.pdf?page=/PageReportLists.aspx?PARENTKEY=127 (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
44Bayani, E.M. 2000. Reducing micronutrient malnutrition: Policies, programmes, issues, and prospects—dietary diversification through food production and nutrition education. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21:522–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
45Ali, M. and Tsou, S. 2000. The integrated research approach of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) to enhance micronutrient availability. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21:473–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
46BBS. 2005. Key findings of HIES 2005. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Available at Web site http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/Survey%20reports/hies_2005.pdf?page=/PageReportLists.aspx?PARENTKEY=127 (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
47WHO. 1990. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. WHO Technical Report Series. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
48WFP. 2006. Global School Feeding Report: World Food Programme. Available at Web site http://www.wfp.org/food_aid/school_feeding/Docs/Global%20Scool%20Feeding%20Report%202006%20final.pdf (accessed February 19, 2007).Google Scholar
49UNICEF. s.a. UNICEF in Action. Available at Web site http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_action.html (accessed November 2, 2008).Google Scholar
50Asp, E.H. 1999. Factors affecting food decisions made by individual consumers. Food Policy 24:287–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51Chambers, R. 1992. Rural appraisal: rapid, relaxed and participatory. IDS Discussion Paper 311. International Development Studies, Brighton.Google Scholar
52Berenson, M.L. and Levine, D.M. 1992. Basic Business Statistics: Concepts and Application. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs.Google Scholar
53Rahman, M.M. 1997. Policies for sustainable shrimp culture in Bangladesh. Papers presented at the Bangkok FAO technical consultation on policies for sustainable shrimp culture. Bangkok, Thailand, December 8–11, 1997. FAO Fisheries Report No. 572 Supplement.Google Scholar
54MOFL. 1995. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Fisheries Development in Bangladesh, Dhaka, October 29–November 1, 1995.Google Scholar
55Karim, M.R. 2006. Brackish-water shrimp cultivation threatens permanent damage to coastal agriculture in Bangladesh. In Hoanh, C.T., Tuong, T.P., Gowing, J.W., and Hardy, B. (eds). Environment and Livelihoods in Tropical Coastal Zones. CAB International, Wallingford, p. 61–71.Google Scholar
56BBS. 2010. Agricultural Sensus. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Available at Web site http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/AgricultureCensus/ag_pre_08.pdf?page=/PageReportLists.aspx?PARENTKEY=44 (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
57CIA. 2010. The World Factbook. Bangladesh. Central Intelligence Agency. Available at Web site http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
58Miah, G.M. and Ahmed, M.M. 2003. Traditional Agroforestry in Bangladesh: Livelihood Activities of the Rural Households. A Poster Presented at the XII World Forestry Congress, September 21–28, 2003, Québec, Canada.Google Scholar
59Rahman, M.M., Atikulla, M., and Miah, M.G. 2009. Homestead Plant Biodiversity in the South-Western Coastal Zone of Bangladesh: Way Forward to Identification, Utilization and Conservation. Department of Botany, Jahangirnagar University and Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University.Google Scholar
60Uddin, M.S., Rahman, M.J., Mannan, M.A., Begum, S.A., Rahman, A.F.M.F., and Uddin, M.R. 2002. Plant biodiversity in the Homesteads of saline area of Southeastern Bangladesh. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 5:710–714.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
61Bouis, H.E. 2000. Commercial vegetable and polyculture fish production in Bangladesh: Their impacts on household income and dietary quality. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21:483–488.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
62Kaul, A.K., Khan, M.R., Choudhury, M.H., and Shaikh, M.A.Q. 1978. Nutritional and cooking quality characters of some local rice cultivars of Bangladesh panel. Proceeding Series (IAEA), Research Co-ordination Meeting of the Seed Protein Improvement Programme, 4, Baden (Austria), FAO, Vienna (Austria), 28 March 1977. Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Atomic Energy in Food and Agriculture, p.167–179.Google Scholar
63Sengsoulivong, V. 2002. Women and agro-biodiversity conservation in Lao PDR. In Boncodin, R., Lopez, C., Barang, M., and Vega, B. (eds). Agro-biodiversity Conservation and the Role of Rural Women: An Expert Consultation Report SEAMEO-SEARCA Headquarters University of the Philippines Los Baños Laguna, Philippines, September 10–13, 2001. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.Google Scholar
64Deb, A.K. 1998. Fake blue revolution: environmental and socio-economic impacts of shrimp culture in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Ocean and Coastal Management 41:63–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
65Lewis, D. and Ali, S. 1990. Social Report on Fisheries III Shrimp Component. Under Assignment from the Overseas Development Administration.Google Scholar
66Ahmed, N. 2001. Socio-Economic Aspects of Freshwater Prawn Culture Development in Bangladesh. University of Stirling, UK.Google Scholar
67Adnan, S. 1991. Minority view of appraisal mission for Phase-III of DDP regarding project policy towards shrimp culture: an alternative approach. Report Prepared for the DDP Phase III Appraisal Mission, October 1991, Dhaka.Google Scholar
68Barkat, A. and Roy, P.R. 2001. Marine and Coastal Tenure/Community-based Property Rights in Bangladesh: An Overview of Resources, and Legal and Policy Developments. Marine and Coastal Resources and Community-based Property Rights: A Philippine Workshop Organized by Tambuyog Development Centre Tanggol Kalikasan, Centre for International Environmental Law and the CBCRM Resource Centre.Google Scholar
69Miah, M.G., Bari, M.N., and Rahman, M.A. 2003. Agricultural activities and their impact on the ecology and biodiversity of the Sunderbans area of Bangladesh. Journal of Natural Science Foundation Sri Lanka 31:175–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
70Tutu, A.-u.-A. 2001. Industrial shrimp cultivation and related issues in respect of South-west coastal region of Bangladesh. Coastal Development Partnership, Padma Network, Khulna.Google Scholar
71EJF. 2004. Desert in the Delta: A Report on the Environmental, Human Rights and Social Impacts of Shrimp Production in Bangladesh. Environmental Justice Foundation, London.Google Scholar
72Runyan, C., Bader, J., and Mathis, C. 2009. Water Quality for Livestock and Poultry. New Mexico State University. Available at Web site http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_m/m-112.pdf (accessed December 10, 2010).Google Scholar
73Rahman, H., Bryceson, I., and Lund, T. 2010. Salinity Effects on Fish Species Diversity in Three, Costal, Rural Villages in Bangladesh, unpublished.Google Scholar
74Gain, P. 2002. Bangladesh: Environment. Facing the 21st Century. Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD), Dhaka.Google Scholar
75Roos, N., Wahab, M.A., Chamnan, C., and Thilsted, S.H. 2007. The role of fish in food-based strategies to combat vitamin A and mineral deficiencies in developing countries. Journal of Nutrition 137:1106–1109.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
76Islam, A. 1999. Effects of Scrimp Farming on the Physico-chemical and Biological Qualities of Water. Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensingh.Google Scholar
77New, M.B. and Wijkström, U.N. 1990. Feed for thought. World Aquaculture 21:217–230.Google Scholar
78INFS. 1983. Nutrition Survey of Rural Bangladesh, 1981–82. Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka.Google Scholar
79Bloem, M.W., Huq, N., Gorstein, J., Burger, S., Kahn, T., Islam, N., Baker, E., and Davidson, F. 1996. Production of fruits and vegetables at the homestead is an important source of vitamin A among women in rural Bangladesh. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50:62–67.Google ScholarPubMed
80Chakravarty, I. 2000. Food-based strategies to control vitamin A deficiency. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21:136–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
81Pollard, J., Kirk, S.F.L., and Cade, J.E. 2002. Factors affecting food choice in relation to fruit and vegetable intake: a review. Nutrition Research Reviews 15:373–387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
82Fassil, H., Guarino, L., Sharrock, S., Mal, B., Hodgkin, T., and Iwanaga, M. 2000. Diversity for food security: Improving human nutrition through better evaluation, management, and use of plant genetic resources. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 21:498–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
83Halder, S. and Urey, I. 2003. Patterns and Trends in Food Consumption in Poor Urban and Rural Households in Bangladesh. Changing Food Consumption Patterns: Implications for Nutrition and Livelihoods.Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Dhaka & Imperial College London, Wye Campus.Google Scholar
84Jahan, K. and Hossain, M. 1998. Nature and Extent of Malnutrition in Bangladesh, Bangladesh National Nutrition Survey, 1995–1998. Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, Dhaka.Google Scholar
85Halim, S., Mallick, D., Reza, O., Hasan, S.R., and Kabir, S.A. 2001. Feasibility Study for the Shrimp Component of the Fourth Fisheries Project: Women and Children Study. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.Google Scholar
86Dewalt, B.R., Vergne, P., and Hardin, M. 1996. Shrimp aquaculture development and the environment: people, mangrove and fisheries on the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras. World Development 24:1193–1208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
87Giap, D.H., Yi, Y., and Lin, C.K. 2005. Effects of different fertilization and feeding regimes on the production of integrated farming of rice and prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man). Aquaculture Research 36:292–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
88Roy, B., Das, S.N., and Mukhopadhyay, P.K. 1991. Rice-Fish/Prawn Vegetable Integrated Farming, Viable Proposition in Deepwater Rice Ecosystem. In Proceedings of the National Symposium on New Horizons in Freshwater Aquaculture, Orissa, India, January 23–25, 1991. Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, p.24–25.Google Scholar
89Nguyen, Q.T. 1993. Rice-freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farms in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly 16:18–20.Google Scholar
90Wahab, M.A., Kunda, M., Azim, M.E., Dewan, S., and Thilsted, S.H. 2008. Evaluation of freshwater prawn-small fish culture concurrently with rice in Bangladesh. Aquaculture Research 39:1524–1532.CrossRefGoogle Scholar