A bold bid by women in Kandhkelgaon Village, West Bengal, to break out of their poverty trap. This story describes how women who could no longer make a living from weaving turned to aquaculture. Success came, not just through income generation but by reducing the cost of being poor. The story highlights the influences that constrain and enhance development, including the sheer bravery and entrepreneurial spirit of people who are poor. 

A closer look at the benefits of working together, the evolution of a federation of aquaculture self-help groups and a one-stop aqua shop in rural West Bengal. India has the largest concentration of tribal population in the world. For a long time now, voices have been raised in support of disadvantaged social groups that are trying to derive a livelihood from limited resources in remote rural areas in India.

A closer look at the evolution of successful aquaculture self-help groups in rural West Bengal, the discovery of new uses for local resource systems and the energising effect of flexible rural credit.

This report provides insight into the status of the marine ornamental fish trade in Indonesia, including policy environment, collection, chain of custody, distribution channels, markets and constraints. The report also reviews the livelihoods of poor stakeholders in market chains including economic and financial aspects, natural and physical resources, livelihood patterns, social structures. The report provides recommendations for policy makers and stakeholders in improving the livelihoods of poor stakeholders in marine ornamental fish collection and market chains.

This report provides insight into the status of the shrimp trade in Vietnam, including policy environment, export capacity, production chain, distribution channels, markets and constraints. The report also reviews the livelihoods of poor stakeholders, including women, in shrimp market chains from input service supply, seed and broodstock supply, grow out, trade and processing. The report provides recommendations for policy makers and stakeholders in improving the livelihoods of poor stakeholders in shrimp market chains.

The purpose of the project was to investigate international trade in fisheries products and its relationship to poverty alleviation and livelihoods of poor aquatic resource users in developing countries in Asia, and to identify options to improve the effectiveness of poverty reduction through international seafood trade. The project directly addressed the EC-PREP priority area of trade and development, and indirectly provided valuable insight to two other priority areas: food security and sustainable rural development; and institutional capacity building.

The objective of this project, in taking forward the achievements of the earlier projects, is to develop and promote mechanisms for the delivery of rural services that can reach and benefit marginalised poor men and women of scheduled tribes and scheduled castes. This workshop in Kaipara Village was meant to “understand the quality of performance in service delivery to poor people through the project monitoring and evaluation system.” Significant change stories were prepared by participants.

In this issue: One-stop aqua shops - an emerging phenomenon in eastern India. Ranchi One-stop Aqua Shop. Kaipara One-stop Aqua Shop. Bilenjore One-stop Aqua Shop. Patnagarh One-stop Aqua Shop. Using bar-coding in a one-stop aqua shop. About the STREAM Journal. About STREAM.

Mahajal – The Big Fishing Net was written by Mr Rakesh Raman, a playwright from Ranchi, Jharkhand, and performed by his theatre troupe. The play was written as an interpretation of the outcomes of the project case studies carried out in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. Act One sets the scene of fisherfolk’s livelihoods and the difficulties they face in a tribal village. Act Two places the project’s policy change recommendations within the context of their lives and aspirations.

In this issue: Changes in Jabarrah. Palu Hijau in the Banggai Islands  - using knowledge for change. Three stories from Nepal. Me and my work. Livelihoods approaches - skills learned, applied and shared. About the STREAM Journal. About STREAM. This edition is also available in Ilonggo and Vietnamese.