UNDP project to improve Trincomalee fishermen livelihood

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 October 2003, 17:19 GMT]
The United Nations Development Programme has launched a transition programme fisheries project in Trincomalee funded by AusAID to strengthen the capacity of fisheries department and fisheries co-operative societies to enable fishermen to improve their livelihoods as many of them have not been active for a long time due to the restrictions imposed on fishing and also they lost part or all of their fishing gear and other equipments, UNDP sources said.


UNDP field co-ordinator Ms Anne K.Hoseth in Trincomalee hands over documents of motorbikes donated by UNDP to Trincomalee Assistant Director of Fisheries Mr.M.S.Thajudeen

A revolving loan fund will be established under the transition programme to provide loans to members from ten selected fisheries co-operative societies, initially, the opportunity to take up micro finance loans to purchase equipment such as boats, nets and other gear through the district fisheries union as many of the fishermen of Trincomalee district are not in a position to purchase new equipment or receive any relevant training, UNDP sources said.

UNDP field co-ordinator Ms Anne K.Hoseth in Trincomalee hands over documents of motorbikes donated by UNDP to Trincomalee Assistant Director of Fisheries Mr.M.S.Thajudeen

As a part of the UNDP Transition Programme fisheries project the capacity of the Department of Fisheries in Trincomalee will be strengthened through training and supplying equipment thus ensuring improved services for the fishing communities, UNDP sources said.

Accordingly UNDP Field Co-ordinator in Trincomalee Ms Anne K.Hoseth Tuesday morning at an event held at the UNDP Trincomalee office handed over four motorbikes to the Assistant Director of Fisheries Mr.M.S.Thajudeen to strengthen the capacity of the Department of Fisheries in Trincomalee. UNDP Programme Officer in Trincomalee V.T.Yogarajah also attended the event, UNDP sources said.

Under the project the fishermen will also be offered the opportunity to develop their skills by being trained or updated in their field, sources said.

More than sixty fisheries co-operative societies in the Trincomalee district have been registered with the fisheries department in Trincomalee but most of them do not function properly. The second aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of fisheries co-operative societies, UNDP sources said.

The UNDP's transition programme mainly focuses on four areas, economic recovery, capacity building and training, support for participatory planning and peace and reconciliation, said UNDP sources.

The project supports the peace process and efforts in the rehabilitation and development of the conflict affected areas and contiguous regions of Sri Lanka, UNDP sources said.