TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement Introduction General ...

Credit systems
Staff composition
Depending on the local situation, having male and female
extension officers might be a useful way to adequately reach
women. A gender balance in extension staff recruitment is one
of the strategies that have been tried successfully in many
projects of CARE and CARITAS Bangladesh. To attract women,
reserve positions for them. Development of gender sensitive
policies and enforcing them with the active participation of staff
have helped ensure gender sensitive outcomes.
Credit, coupled with appropriate training, is usually helpful to farmers. In some
countries, like Bangladesh, existing micro-credit systems have inappropriate
repayment schedules. Most aquaculture species require a three to four months growout
period. But the existing credit system requires commencement of repayment
within a week after the loan is obtained. Changing the repayment schedules has
been found to benefit women involved in aquaculture activities.
Credit systems need not depend only on available credit facilities. Established
women’s groups should initiate the formation of a self-help credit system for
themselves. Each woman member can contribute an equal amount of seed money
which they can avail of alternately. That way, money procurement is facilitated and
interest is avoided.
Small aquaculture systems help improve the livelihoods of people. The provision of
knowledge to fish farmers, particularly to women, contributes to women
empowerment and an increase in family income.