Technology and poverty in Sri Lankan fisheries sector, the case of four fish villages in Tangalle

Abstract

Poverty is the greatest challenge we ever face aftermath of the Tsunami tidal waves which hit two third of the coastal belt on 26th December 2004, throwing normal Fishermen life into the dark. People who lived around the coastal areas were lost their lives irrespective of any status. People who escaped from the tsunami have lost their properties and the way of living, pulling them to the poverty of any measurement. A substantial part of the Northern, Faster and Southern coastal areas were devastated. It clearly showed that the nation is far below with the latest advanced technology and how poor economically to face with such situations. 80% of the fisheries sector damaged; in which 75 per cent of the fishing fleet were damaged which is more than 24,000 boats destroyed which comprising large number of fishing crafts, small-scale fishing crafts and the fishing gears. Of 12 harbors, 10 were severely damaged, including breakwaters, buildings, machinery and equipments. Generally hundred of small businesses and entrepreneurs were badly affected through damage to property, premises, stock; machinery as well as employees displaced injured or perished./ Now it requires a clear mission to fight back poverty Fisheries Sector with a passion and professionalism, integrating every aspect of eradicating poverty, essentially a successful development of a comprehensive, multifaceted and properly integrated policy framework. It has identified the importance of the integration of global and local forces and technological advancement, which must be harnessed to improve the quality of poor people./ The research was carried out as a case study of four fish villages Kudaweila, Maxwell, Unakuruwa. and Rekawa in Tangle Fish District in Southern Province. A survey was conducted to identify the current life situation of the fishermen who live in these areas and the hard factors that arc affected to their industry such as technological methods, pre and post harvesting planning activities, financial activities, infrastructure and access tonew technologies. It has been studied the services and the management activities that have been provided by the key stakeholders as governing bodies of the fisheries sector and to what extent the fishermen effectively use these serv ices. It was identified the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders and introduced a new conceptualized framework by identifying and integrating the key stakeholders to overcome the current barriers in developing the lives of the poor fishermen. According to the recent survey carried out by the DCS, 30 per cent of the people who are living in Sri Lanka are below the poverty line which Rs. 1423.00 on real food and non- food consumption expenditure per person per month (DCS 2002 survey report). It has been studied the historical development in Sri Lankan and studied the technology available, specially the Intonation Communication Technology which the Sri Lankan Fisheries sector can use to overcome the current pressing issues. All the key stakeholders in the Fisheries sector must work towards clear objectives such bas to assist in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected people to enable them to recommence operations immediately with the improved technology, training, accessibility to the world market with improved quality of products./ Total fish production has marginally dropped by 0.1 per cent in the year 2004 (Statistical Unit Ministry of Fisheries 2004). The main causes for the above drop are the price increase in world oil. instability of the government, lack of proper integrated policy implementations system, human diversification for other jobs, lack of latest technology and lack of access to the available technology, the waste of the production, lack of economic value for the product and the lack of proper resources management to introduce a value added product to the market apart from the Tsunami catastrophe./ Therefore it requires a sustainable development to the fisheries sector having a new- framework integrating all the stakeholders in the industry aiming for the objectives to eradicate poverty of the bottom level of fishermen in the hierarchy. A mechanism, which will really impact on the livelihood of the fishermen, is required. It shows the importance of such integration and share expert's knowledge and the funds for the future research and development in the industry through monitoring such large investments in the industry. The implementation of new technological innovations within the framework for the beneficial of fishermen who are marginalized and application ,of technological policies within the framework for sustainable development.