Effects of blockade on livelihoods of the poor

Since the independence of the country, Bangladesh never experienced political unrest like the prolonged blockade (70 days) during October-December 2013 that traumatised the entire nation, affected social, economic and all other aspects of life with severe negative effects on the country's economy as a whole.
Along with all the sectors, the blockade largely affected the activities of local and international NGOs who work for the poor/extreme poor and small farmers/producers, dependent on farm and off-farm livelihoods activities.  NGOs could reach only 52 per cent of their target beneficiaries during the period (JNA Report 2014), which reveals how seriously the blockade impeded their programmes and activities.
Considering such negative effects, Practical Action- Bangladesh commissioned an assessment and tried to examine the effects of blockade on the livelihoods of its poor/extreme poor beneficiaries; grasp learning experiences to use in future as precautionary measures to facilitate execution of its programmes. Besides the affected poor farmers/producers and NGOs, this learning might be useful to the donors, development partners, researchers and planners.
The assessment showed how the prolonged countrywide blockade caused manifold negative impacts on the livelihood of the affected poor people. The most it caused was on the income opportunities of non-agricultural labourers compared to agricultural labourers. Non-agricultural labourers, rickshaw/van pullers, mechanics mostly lost their employment opportunities. Labourers of urban areas were most affected compared to those in rural areas, save few exceptions.
Higher economic losses occurred (60.78 per cent) in off-farm activities in comparison to farm activities (50.33 per cent). Because, off-farm activities were fully market dependent, these were worst hit by the blockade, while in case of  farm based activities, severity of the blockade caused higher prices of seeds, fertiliser and fuel.  
Blockade affected production, harvesting, processing and marketing of agricultural and non-agricultural productions as marketing and supply chain system was almost inactive. Farmers failed to market their products in districts and divisional cities. Supply of the essentials (rice, flour, onion, garlic, chili, oil, pulses etc.) and agricultural inputs (seeds, fertiliser, fuel/diesel etc.) were also extremely inadequate at local markets. Breakdown of supply chain system due to disruption of transportation decreased prices of local products compelled the farmers/producers to sell their products, mostly perishables at lower prices. Failing to sell, frustrated farmers even threw away their produce on roads and highways.
Milk producers and small poultry and diary farms faced severe losses. Due to fuel scarcity, farmers in many places could neither plough, nor irrigate their land timely, which delayed cultivation and resulted in the failure of the next crop cultivation that left them with threats of long term economic hardship.
Poor farmers/producers lost a total of 58 per cent of their production in farm/off-farm fields. Average loss for each household was taka 3,760 as against expected production/gross income of Tk. 6,495, which was taka 2002 for farm and 5,199 for off-farm works.
The district of Sirajganj experienced higher losses in both the farm and off-farm arenas. Percentage of average loss remained the same to total loss as it was calculated based on total production loss.
The analysis clearly shows how the prolonged blockade created negative effects on the livelihoods of the poor farmers/producers, which was really difficult to manage by them. It led them into severe hardship and sufferings, which they had to somehow cope with by receiving loan/credit from NGOs/neighbours, selling household assets/property, purchasing essentials from shops on credit (baki), and indeed consuming less food.
The blockade created negative impact on our national economy, but the extent could not be learnt in the absence of sector-specific assessment. Blockade resulted in the decline of the GDP growth below 6.0 per cent. Political parties should rethink of their strategy of actions and the government and the NGOs nedd to plan alternative livelihoods supports for the poor/extreme poor people in such a situation.
The writer is associated with
Practical Action.
[email protected]