This manual is intended to facilitate a learning process which will arm field level fishery extension officers with knowledge and skills to assist fisherfolk communities in their efforts to collectively address their needs and problems. It is designed to be used in two ways: Firstly, as a trainer's manual: the document begins with participatory rapid rural analysis to understand the status and dynamics of communities. moves on to needs analysis and identification. problem analysis. generating solution option, planning activities, group formation and management, savings and credit management and finally project planning, implementation and management. It also includes training approaches and tips and provides examples of work that results from putting the training into praxis. Secondly, for motivated and commited field workers, the manual could provide a self-instruction aid which helps them to think through and put various approaches into practise.
The approach is aimed at addressing the needs of the whole fishing community either directly through action or indirectly through facilitating action by other agencies and workers.
The manual evolved out of a year and a half of training which was provided to 23 DOF officials and 4 NGO staff in Patuakhali and Borguna Districts of Bangladesh. The examples of work included are taken directly from the efforts of these trainees.
The manual was designed, developed and written by Mr Md Shahid Hossain Talukdar, a national of Bangladesh and a Consultant. with the help of the small team of trainers.
The manual was developed as a part of sub-project "Fisheries Extension Development" (FED/BGD), of the Department of Fisheries, Government of Bangladesh, which was assisted by the Bay of Bengal Programme of the FAO of UN (GCP/RAS/ 118/MUL) which working in the seven countries around the Bay of Bengal, namely Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand aims at improving the quality of life of small-scale fisherfolk.
This document has not been officially cleared either by the concerned government or by the FAO.