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Unnayan Onneshan
Update March-June 2007
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NEWRe-governing Markets: Policy and Institutional Mapping for Small-Scale Producer's Participation in Dynamic Markets in Bangladesh [12 - 14 June 2007]
A series of working meetings were held in Dhaka and in Daudkandi, Comilla District, Bangladesh, during 12-14 June 2007, to explore the emerging implications to small-scale producers and processors of changes in the dynamic agric-business sector. The meetings involved some 100 participants including over thirty farmers and similar number of agribusiness representatives as well as academics, and civil society, public sector and media representatives. Three working meetings were held to enable multi–stakeholder representatives and interest groups to share experiences on the current drivers of change in dynamic market in Bangladesh with special reference to fresh produce of potatoes. The meetings were organised by Unnayan Onneshan with technical and financial support from the Regoverning Markets Programme international team and specific support from Nijera Kori www.nijerakori.org a local NGO who made the arrangements for the meeting with farmers in the community. The meetings identified possible actions or interventions which could be considered to strengthen small-scale producers’ access and anticipated future participation in dynamic markets. The meetings recognised the unique institutional and economic policy environment of Bangladesh, seeking the active engagement of key stakeholders namely small-scale producers and their representatives, key public sector administrations, the agri-food processing and wholesale and retail sectors, consumer organisations, economic and social policy centres, agricultural research and public and private sector service providers to the agri-food market chain. Unnayan Onneshan will take on the responsibility for dissemination of the findings from the meetings within Bangladesh and assist as appropriate any follow up. Details Sundarban Reserve Forest: an Account of People’s Livelihood & Biodiversity
The study was a collaborative action research actively participated by often ignored stakeholders-the forest peoples. It explores the nature of Sundarban Reserve Forest, biodiversity conservation strategies and qualitative perspectives of different communities like, Mouals, Bawals, Golpata collectors, Fishermen and Munda living in Sundarban Impact Zone with a aiming to contribute government to implement Article 10(c) of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was always been wrongly conceived that Indigenous and Local communities are responsible for forest destruction. The study vehemently urges that the Indigenous and local communities are not responsible rather the interest nexus of FD, politician, traders and dacoits are to be accounted for all miss deeds. Sometimes over harvesting by communities take place to prevent their loss due to FD’s corruption and ransom for dacoits and police they have to pay.
To deal with the challenges communities recommend for community Based management of Sundarban and introduction of special law enforcing force like RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) combining of Bangladesh Army, Coast Guard, Forest Official and Community representation to combat decoity. Reorganization of Indigenous and local communities right to forest and coherence legal reform along with the right tuning of local policies with international obligation is highly necessary. The effective implementation of Article 10(c) of CBD will be the right tool to improve the situation of sundarban and other forests and forest peoples of the country. Details |
