INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREA CO-MANAGEMENT (IPAC) - BIDS

In spite of the above, dadon is preferred to bank or NGO loans; because, the bank or the
NGO loans only collect installments and the interest on the capital; they hardly appreciate
the circumstances or the realities of resource collection. They do not or cannot ensure the
safety of the collectors at the forest or sea areas. If a trawler is caught by pirates, for
example, the dadondars (dadon givers) pay the money or ransom and set the collectors free
from the hassle.
Dadon, which is easily accessible, is administered through informal means. Dadon is also
given to the collectors during the severe needs or lean periods of their families. Dadon is
governed by a social network of trust and relationship. Nevertheless, a chain of obligations
can hardly be paid back in full, which has an adverse effect on the collectors in the long
run. Because, the collectors’ ‘dues on dadon’ keep on increasing as they often have
hardships. At times, poverty and dadons operate in a vicious cycle.
A large majority of our respondent actors, particularly at the lowest layer in the value
chain, have to rely on dadons. The good thing is that, as our survey shows, dadon markets,
with two distinct groups - takers and providers, sometimes operate almost like an open and
competitive market. Dadon takers can enjoy the scope of negotiating with respective
dadondars (dadon givers) as, in some places, many people are available in the market
offering dadons; the dadon takers have the liberty to switch over to other dadon providers
depending on the conditions of respective offers. The powerful actors at the top layer in
the value chain, however, are likely to be able to avail institutional loans.
3.3.11 Level of Physical Facilities
Perception of respondent actors on level of available physical facilities for fish was collected
(Table 3.21). The facilities include, among other, handling, washing , sorting, grading, icing,
storage, bargaining power and market information. It can be seen that the average physical
facilities available for fish products are utterly poor as 40 percent of the fishers mentioned this to
be low, while 45 percent mentioned this to be only average, with only 16 percent mentioned this
as high. The available facilities appear to be relatively poor particularly in respect of washing,
sorting, cleaning, storage capacity, bargaining power, market information and credit faculties.
Table 3.21: Perception of respondents on level of available facilities for fish
Available
Perception on level of facilities for fish
facilities
High Average Low
No. % No. % No. %
Handling 69 75.8 12 4.8 1 0.5
Washing - - 7 2.8 5 2.3
Sorting - - 8 3.2 5 2.3
Grading 5 5.5 8 3.2 3 1.4
Cleaning - - 5 2.0 5 2.3
Icing 8 8.8 10 4.0 4 1.8
Knowledge about hygiene 3 3.3 1 0.4 6 2.8
Storage capacity - - 8 3.2 22 10.1
Cold storage - - 1 0.4 20 9.2
Ice 1 1.1 22 0.8 14 6.4
Transport facilities 1 1.1 29 11.6 8 3.7
Bargaining power - - 23 9.2 71 32.6
Market information 2 2.2 40 16.0 44 20.2
Credit facilities 2 2.2 76 30.4 10 4.6
All 91
(16.3)
100.0 250
44.7)
100.0 218
(40.0)
100.0
55