Food Security Situation and Alternative Livelihood Opportunities for Ultra Poor Farming Households of Haor Area

The paper aims at assessing food security situation and livelihood opportunities existed for the ultra poor farming community in a typical haor area of Kishoreganj district. In addition, food security strategies followed by the farmers during the crisis period and their opinion on poverty alleviation strategies are also discussed. The study was carried out at two villages under Itna and Tarail upazilas of Kishoreganj district. Apart from participatory method, quantitative data were also collected from a sample of 150 ultra poor farmers by using interview schedules during the months of August to October 2009. The seasonal diagramming revealed that ultra poor farmers of the hoar area faced chronic food insecurity during the months of February to April and August to October. Their livelihood opportunity remained limited during the period of inundation, i.e., from May to October. Of the 18 food security strategies, three were found followed by the farmers with more severity, while five and ten strategies being followed with moderate and low severity. The characteristics of the respondents revealed that the ultra poor farmers of the haor area had almost no or very limited human and physical resources for sustaining their livelihoods. The farmers also made a number of opinions on how the government and other concerned agencies can undertake some realistic programmes towards alleviation of abject poverty situation.