INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREA CO-MANAGEMENT (IPAC) - BIDS

Figure 3.3: Annual occupation pattern of SRF collectors
2.SRF related activity
1.SRF collection
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
11.1
7.9
11.1
11.1
12.7
15.9
19.0
28.6 28.6
20.6
22.2
27.0
52.4 49.2 33.3 34.9 39.7 46.0 47.6 52.4 71.4 68.3 65.1 68.3
3.3.9 Capital Structure of SRF Activities
As will be explained later in the chapter on value chain analysis (Chapter 5), understanding
dadons and its calculation is extremely complex. Almost all the actors starting from collectors
either receive or offer dadons in this way or that way. The higher level of actors mostly offer
dadons but also sometimes receive money (sort of advance) against sales obligation to their
clients which may or may not be termed as dadons 56 . The Aratdars, for example, consist of
Choto Aratdars who receive and Boro Aratdars who offer dadons. They also comprise local and
non-local Aratdars. Boro Aratdars also receive sort of dadons in the form of advance received.
With a few exceptions with wholesalers, the retailers and wholesalers do not receive any dadons
but they carry out business with Aratdars on credits at some enhanced prices of their products.
Similar is the case with retailers.
In fact, it is difficult to identify what are dadons and what are credits as there are innumerable
ways of repayment - repayment in cash with interest (47.6%) or without interest (4.0%),
repayment in goods at market price (16.7%) and repayment at reduced market price (33.3%)
(Table 3.19). Our field survey shows that the collectors have to sell their collected products at a
price reduced by up to 22.5 percent compared to prevailing market price, depending on products.
Besides, the purchasers also take additional share for the dadons by making pilferage in terms of
weights of quantity of the purchased products, especially aquatic products (crab, fish). A
detailed investigation to this needs further study. For the sake of simplicity the present study
considers those credits or advances as dadons against which there is an obligation of
selling/purchasing those goods at some market or reduced price.
56
One may raise questions how and where from Mahajans or Aratdars arrange fund while they offer huge amount
of money as dadons to lower hierarchy actors. They might avail institutional sources of financing. Besides, as is
generally believed, yet higher levels of actors are there operating in the SIZ who are far wealthier section but not so
visible in the SRF community.
52