An Analysis of Income Sources and Food Security Status in Haor Regions of Kishoregonj District, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to investigate income diversity and food security status among people living in the Haor area, with the objective of informing development policies for these regions. The research focused on assessing the socioeconomic characteristics, income diversity, and food security status of 120 randomly selected households in the Nikli and Tarail upazilas within Kishoregonj district, Bangladesh. Data was gathered through direct face-to-face interviews. The study revealed that the majority of households (91.66%) were male-headed, with an average family size of 5.10 members. A significant proportion (62.5%) of respondents fell within the 30-64 age group. Education-wise, a substantial portion (39.16%) of respondents had a secondary level of education, while 25% were employed in the agriculture sector. Approximately 45.83% of households were constructed with tin materials. The average monthly income and expenditure were Tk. 9536 and Tk. 8316, respectively. Income diversification was found to be prevalent among the respondents; however, within individual households, diversification was limited. The Simpson's and Shannon's indices of diversity for income were 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. About 25% of households were classified as ultra-poor, 29.17% as hard-core poor, and 20.83% were in the category of absolute poverty. On the positive side, 25% of the sample households were deemed non-poor. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes to address poverty eradication and enhance the standard of living in the study area. By understanding the socioeconomic dynamics and food security challenges faced by Haor communities, policymakers can devise targeted interventions to uplift the living conditions and well-being of the residents in these regions.