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• 1. [Article] Contribution of Fishing to Households' Economy - Evidence From Fisher-Farmer Communities in Congo

  Small-scale fisheries in developing countries have often been perceived as a low-productivity, backward informal sector. As a result they are rarely considered as a possible entry point in poverty reduction ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Contribution of Fishing to Households' Economy - Evidence From Fisher-Farmer Communities in Congo Author: Béné, Christophe Small-scale fisheries in developing countries have often been perceived as a low-productivity, backward informal sector. As a result they are rarely considered as a possible entry point in poverty reduction and rural development planning. Data collected in Democratic Republic of Congo show that this perception may not reflect the empirical reality. Through group and individual household interviews we investigate the dual role of fish as food and cash-crop in this very remote rural area of Congo. The data show that - like in a majority of inland fisheries- fishing is operated seasonally as part of a household-based multiactivity livelihood strategy. Analysis shows that the poorest households rely more heavily on fishing for their supply of protein-rich food, in particular through the fish caught by women. Fishing also appears to be the main source of cash income for the majority of the households, including farmers. In fact households which have the opportunity to engage in fishing often display a higher income than nonfishing households. Based on these findings the paper argues that small-scale fisheries can play a fundamental role in local economy, especially in remote rural areas where they can contribute to strengthen the livelihoods of people through both food security and cash-income generation. Title: Contribution of Fishing to Households' Economy - Evidence From Fisher-Farmer Communities in Congo Author: Béné, Christophe Small-scale fisheries in developing countries have often been perceived as a low-productivity, backward informal sector. As a result they are rarely considered as a possible entry point in poverty reduction and rural development planning. Data collected in Democratic Republic of Congo show that this perception may not reflect the empirical reality. Through group and individual household interviews we investigate the dual role of fish as food and cash-crop in this very remote rural area of Congo. The data show that - like in a majority of inland fisheries- fishing is operated seasonally as part of a household-based multiactivity livelihood strategy. Analysis shows that the poorest households rely more heavily on fishing for their supply of protein-rich food, in particular through the fish caught by women. Fishing also appears to be the main source of cash income for the majority of the households, including farmers. In fact households which have the opportunity to engage in fishing often display a higher income than nonfishing households. Based on these findings the paper argues that small-scale fisheries can play a fundamental role in local economy, especially in remote rural areas where they can contribute to strengthen the livelihoods of people through both food security and cash-income generation. Close

• 2. [Article] Assessing Vulnerability to Poverty in Fishing Communities

  In this paper we develop an index of economic vulnerability which we use conjointly with a more conventional measure of income poverty to explore the different dimensions of poverty (transient, chronic, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing Vulnerability to Poverty in Fishing Communities Author: Béné, Christophe In this paper we develop an index of economic vulnerability which we use conjointly with a more conventional measure of income poverty to explore the different dimensions of poverty (transient, chronic, vulnerability) that affect fishing communities in developing countries. We illustrate the potential uses of this method with cross-sectoral data of farming-fishing communities from a remote rural area in Democratic Republic of Congo. In line with recent works on poverty and vulnerability our analysis suggests that income poverty and economic vulnerability are only loosely correlated at the household level. In particular, the data show that households can remain highly vulnerable even when their incomes lie well above the average local income. The analysis also highlights the high vulnerability of full-time fisherfolks and identifies mobility as a key-factor increasing vulnerability. These different results are consistent with the conclusions usually proposed in the more specialized literature on small-scale fisheries in Africa. Title: Assessing Vulnerability to Poverty in Fishing Communities Author: Béné, Christophe In this paper we develop an index of economic vulnerability which we use conjointly with a more conventional measure of income poverty to explore the different dimensions of poverty (transient, chronic, vulnerability) that affect fishing communities in developing countries. We illustrate the potential uses of this method with cross-sectoral data of farming-fishing communities from a remote rural area in Democratic Republic of Congo. In line with recent works on poverty and vulnerability our analysis suggests that income poverty and economic vulnerability are only loosely correlated at the household level. In particular, the data show that households can remain highly vulnerable even when their incomes lie well above the average local income. The analysis also highlights the high vulnerability of full-time fisherfolks and identifies mobility as a key-factor increasing vulnerability. These different results are consistent with the conclusions usually proposed in the more specialized literature on small-scale fisheries in Africa. Close