An Actor Oriented Analysis of Chilli and Beef Production in the Jamalpur Chars of Bangladesh

This publication is an output from a research project funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Crop Post-Harvest Programme. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID.

Introduction

This research was supported by DFID’s crop post harvest programme and carried out over an 18 month period between November 2002 and May 2004. The research team and its partners (char dwellers, government research and extension staff, NGOs and private sector actors) used ‘actor oriented tools’ to identify the key linkages and partnerships used by char dwellers to access information, market opportunities and to develop innovations in chilli and beef fattening.  

Analysing these key linkages, the research coalition identified specific interventions which could support or modify existing linkages or build new linkages to make chilli and livestock innovation systems work better for producers on the chars.

The research methodology and findings are described in detail in our main project report (Matsaert, H. Ahmed, Z. Salam, S. A. Munzure,A.  Rahman,M. Hussein, F. and Islam, N.  2004 An Actor Oriented Analysis of Chilli and Beef Production in the Jamalpur Chars of Bangladesh).  

Research Objectives

The research aimed to develop actor oriented tools to improve institutional analysis and partnership building in project appraisal and planning.  Specific outputs were:-

1. To identify opportunities for pro-poor interventions for chilli and livestock fattening innovation systems in the Jamalpur chars.
2. To develop and share useful actor oriented tools for analysis of innovation systems
3. To document and share experiences of working as a ‘research coalition’.

Research Location

This research was located in the Jamalpur chars with the intention that the findings should inform and guide DFID’s forthcoming Chars Livelihood Development Programme.

Char based research was carried out in Kulpal and Nolshunda char, Sarishabari, Jamalpur.  We also worked with other ‘actors’ in chilli and livestock production systems at the district and national level.

Selection of Focus Enterprises

We selected chilli and beef fattening as focus enterprises after discussions with char dwellers and local extension staff in Sarishabari.  Criteria for selecting these enterprises were:-

• importance to livelihoods (particularly of resource poor farmers)
• relative production advantage in the chars
• opportunities for institutional innovations to enhance these enterprises and increase benefits to resource poor households.

Chilli

• Chardwellers of all wealth categories ranked this as a key enterprise in PRA exercises.
• Reasons for high ranking was high demand, local markets, high profits for red chilli, and ability to sell green or red.
• Relative advantage in chars which are known to produce the best quality chilli in Bangladesh
• Opportunities for innovations: quality of product (reduce post harvest losses), soil fertility management, pest and disease management, affordable irrigation, credit, access to information, relations with middlemen, storage of green chilli, new markets.

Livestock

• Chardwellers of all wealth categories, and particularly women, ranked livestock as a key enterprise.
• High ranking because: accessible to even the poorest households (through shared rearing arrangements), high involvement of women, good market opportunities and high profits (particularly at Qurbani Eid).
• Relative advantage in chars because of plentiful grazing and fodder.
• Opportunities for innovations: animal health and nutrition, utilisation of char fodder species, access to information, new market channels for beef, develop leather marketing channels.

Actor Oriented Approach

Our research followed an actor oriented approach, analysing these chilli and beef fattening innovation systems in terms of the linkages, information flows and coalitions between key actors in the system.  The approach and research tools used are described in detail in the accompanying report: ‘Actor Oriented Tools for Analysis of Innovation Systems: Some guidelines from experience of analysing natural resource based innovation systems in Bangladesh’ (Matsaert  et al 2004)

Research Process